PFN Rejects Bago’s Position on Christian Political Participation

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Niger State Chapter, has rejected the position attributed to Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago that Christians should participate actively in partisan politics before seeking government appointments.
The PFN said political participation should not be the price citizens must pay to receive fair treatment from government.
The state PFN Chairman, Pastor PeteRock Sadiq, stated this on Friday during a press briefing in Minna.
Sadiq said Governor Bago, having been elected by the people, is expected to govern all citizens regardless of their religion, political affiliation or voting choices.
He said a governor could emerge from a political party but becomes governor of the entire state after election.
“A father is fair to his children because he is a father, not because the children campaigned for him,” Sadiq said.
The PFN chairman was reacting to remarks reportedly made by the governor’s Christian Coordinator, Lawrence Isah, during the 14th anniversary celebration of House on the Rock Ministry in Minna.
According to Sadiq, Christians were told that they needed to participate fully in partisan politics before they could expect consideration for government appointments.
He disagreed, saying public appointments should be based mainly on competence, character, merit and the needs of the state.
Sadiq said Niger State needs qualified professionals in areas such as medicine, engineering, education, administration and economics.
He noted that some of these professionals may not belong to political parties or participate actively in political campaigns but can still make valuable contributions to governance.
The PFN chairman also attributed the low participation of some Christians in partisan politics to the challenges associated with the political system.
He cited the high cost of politics and what he described as intense competition for political positions as factors that could discourage qualified people from participating.
Sadiq said it would therefore be unfair to blame citizens for not participating in partisan politics while overlooking the barriers that may prevent them from doing so.
He also maintained that Christians have participated in the democratic process by registering to vote, collecting their Permanent Voter Cards and casting their ballots during elections.
“Christians in Niger State registered, collected their PVCs, queued under the sun and voted,” he said.
“It is the act that makes a candidate a governor. A people cannot be told, after they have voted, that they did not participate.”
Sadiq urged Governor Bago to ensure that qualified citizens are considered for opportunities in government without making partisan political activity a condition for inclusion.
He said the PFN was not demanding special treatment or unqualified appointments for Christians.
Rather, he said the group was asking for fairness, justice and equal opportunity for all qualified citizens.
The PFN chairman also urged Christians to take greater interest in civic affairs by obtaining their voter cards, assessing candidates based on competence and character, voting and holding elected leaders accountable.
“We will continue to encourage our people to be present, responsible and strategic citizens, but participation in partisan politics must not be made the price of fair treatment,” he said.