The Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim, Dr David Bob-Manuel, has warned Nigerians against vote-buying and the tendency to vote for sentiment rather than competence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bob-Manuel explained that such wrong disposition by the electorate would always throw up wrong people and therefore hinder the desire to have a country that all can be proud of.
The cleric also urged the church to remain impartial and to be more concerned with praying for the right choice of leadership rather than being seen to have aligned with the interests of one political party or the other.
He explained, “The church is not supposed to get involved in partisan politics; we have members who belong to different kinds of political parties, so the church should be home to everyone.
“The church can not be partial; we should rather pray that the Almighty God will direct the people to choose the right person to lead either at the state or national level.”
Bob-Manuel disclosed this while speaking to journalists on Tuesday during his special visit to the Cherubim and Seraphim churches in Ijebu Province.
The clergyman stated that fear of God is instrumental in overcoming the myriad challenges hindering our national development.
He explained, “I will appeal to our fellow Nigerians and let us fear God and keep His commandments. We must be ready to present our challenges to God, and He will choose the right leader for us, but when we try to do it our own way, we make a lot of mistakes that will definitely lead to regret.
“During the electoral campaign, we know the people who are asking for our votes, they are living with us, they are not strangers, we know the ability of everyone, so we know these people, those who can actually lead us either in our different states or lead this country.
“But instead of going to the ballot and choosing the right person with our votes, you allow people to buy your vote by giving you money or whatever it may be to make you change your mind, you are certainly selling your conscience, and at the end of the day, we may certainly not get the results that we want.
“But if you want to do the right thing, you will vote for that candidate that we all know has the capacity to lead both the national and state level.
“So, our people should be ready to vote in their conscience, vote for capacity, people who can lead this country aright and not vote for interest and sentiment. I pray that Nigerians have the fear of God for them to do the right thing.”
He explained that he has come to visit the body of Christ in Ijebu land to see how they are faring and said it is the usual practice of the church head to visit every three years and offer support and counseling where necessary.
Addressing the church during the visit, Bob-Manuel urged them to intensify efforts to win more souls for Christ and to play down on ordination and amplify those things that will expand the kingdom work started by the founder, Moses Orimolade Tunolase, over 100 years ago.
He explained that “Yes, ordination is good, but it is not an end in itself, but a wheel to edify the body of Christ by converting souls to Christ and to secure salvation for the souls of mankind. We must focus more on what ordination is according to Ephesians 4, and play down the glamor we attach to it.
“Once again, as Christ remains our foundation and chief cornerstone, we must pursue with added vigor, particularly in the South West, the original object of the church and be in the vanguard of the new wave of revival as we journey through the new century of our dear church.”