Minister of State Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, and spokesman of Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidential campaign council, has asked Bishop John Onaiyekan to desist from commenting on political issues in the country to avoid inciting his congregation against political opponents.
“Dear daddy Onaiyekan, you know we all respect you a lot, but your political comments are becoming unstatesmanlike,” Keyamo said in a reaction to the Bishop over his comment on inauguration of Nigeria’s President-Elect, Tinubu.
Onaiyekan had in an interview with Channels Television, said; “It doesn’t make sense for Tinubu to be sworn in before conclusion of the presidential election tribunal on the suit challenging Tinubu’s election.”
Tinubu is billed to takeover government from incumbent President Mohammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.
Mr Keyamo said a statesman who doubles as a man of God should strive to be fair to all.
“You didn’t say the same thing when Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari were all sworn in as President respectively when their cases were still before the courts,” Keyamo emphasized.
Keyamo said: “You have chosen to single out this President- Elect @officialBAT this time around, because the candidate you and your other religious brethren openly supported lost the election and you all feel humiliated and embarrassed.
“All issues raised against the victory of @officialBAT are in court now (whether it is 25% votes in FCT or the fake drug issue, etc), are not different from issues raised against previous Presidents-Elect, because basically the complaints have always been that the declared victor did not win the election fair and square or was not qualified to contest the election.
“No disqualifying issue against a candidate can be greater than other disqualifying issues since a single issue can decide a case against a President-Elect.
“So, why all the fuse now? It has always been our electoral template since 1999 for the declared winners to be sworn into office in order TO AVOID A VACUUM and not to foist an unconstitutional contraption on the system whist the cases are in court.
“My dear Daddy, may I respectfully advise that going forward, you and your brethren may consider stepping back from the deep and murky waters of politics and desist from descending into the arena of political conflicts where your children in your congregations find themselves on different sides of political divides, so it would be unfair to them for you to openly take sides.
“The embarrassment to the Body of Christ is getting too much and no politician is worth dragging this dignified body into unnecessary political controversy. Is this too much to ask, Daddy?” Keyamo stressed.
