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Nigeria’s Consecrated Urged “to speak out in face of societal moral decadence in politics”

Fr. Lawrence Olumide Ogundipe. Credit: Nigeria Catholic Network

Consecrated persons in Nigeria have been challenged to exercise their prophetic role amid ongoing political campaigns ahead of February 2023 general elections, speaking out against “moral decadence in politics”.

In a reflection the Nigeria Catholic Network (NCN) published Wednesday, October 26, Fr. Lawrence Olumide Ogundipe cautions against silence on the part of women and men Religious amid social ills, adding that such a stance would attract harsh judgement. 

“The Consecrated Persons need to speak out in the face of societal moral decadence in politics especially in Nigeria where abnormalities appear to be the norm,” Fr. Ogundipe says in his reflection published under the title, “‘The place of Consecrated persons in the present-day politics in Nigeria”.

The Delegate Superior of the Society of Divine Vocations (SDV – Vocationist Fathers) in Nigeria warns that if Consecrated persons do not act, “posterity will question our reaction when governance was commercialized which led to corruption, socio-economic disorder, hunger and untimely death of many citizens.”

What was the stand of the Consecrated persons when the people could no longer choose their leaders because their votes never counted, especially as witnessed in the 2019 elections?” he poses in his reflection published October 26.

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Fr. Ogundipe goes on to warn that in future, researchers will ransack the archives to “to find the agenda of our family council meetings in various communities, the content of our ecclesiastical newspapers and journals, the reasons for our emergency meetings during these ungodly periods.”

The SDV Delegate Superior who doubles as the Vice Rector of Vocationist International School for Formators Inu-Odi Ibadan says that in areas where Consecrated persons will have spoken against societal ills, posterity “will place our words side by side with our actions”.

“Books will be written about this generation and they will judge and assess our actions and inactions,” Fr. Ogundipe says. 

The lecturer of Mass Communication in Nigeria’s Grajos College of Communication and Information Technology adds, “They will mention names of superiors, dates, places and circumstances. Most of these would be factual, some would be speculative.”

He says though Canon Law prohibits Consecrated Persons from participating in political activities, they need to be vocal on societal issues.

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“The mission of the Church in the world is neither political, social or economic yet, she cannot overlook them in as much as they directly or indirectly contribute to the realization of her mission.” the Vocationist Father says. 

He explains, “The Church’s interest in social-political matters is a product of a careful reflection in line with faith, which aims at bringing every principle towards the fulfillment of the gospel messages. This message is to bring peace, development here on earth and finally peace with God hereafter.”

The 25 February 2023 general elections in Africa’s most populous nation will see the electorate vote for the President and Vice President. Eligible voters are to also vote for members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The election of State Governors in the West African nation has been slated for 11 March 2023.

This story was first published by ACI Africa on 27 October 2022.

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Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.