*Much Ado about RCCG Politics Directorate*

Every now and then, when there is a national issue of discourse, some respectable persons make commentaries that make you laugh off your chair. This is the case with the announcement that RCCG, one of the biggest Pentecostal movements in the world was setting up a Directorate of Politics.

Expectedly, Farooq Kperogi, a supposed professor jumped on the subject matter, exuding high octane level of ignorance laced with crass insolence and naivety. For those who have been unfortunate to stumble on the garbage Kperogi writes, his latest gibberish on RCCG will come as no surprise.

I somehow pity the students at Kennesaw University where he allegedly teaches, I hope for the sake of humanity he follows the curriculum and not pass on his skewed mentality.

As for Dele Momodu, the founder of Ovation Magazine, he is a turncoat of the highest order. Having garnered one vote at his polling unit at his first shot, he has decided that propaganda, half-truth and ill research submissions will at least get him more than one vote. Well, that feat will be record breaking for him by all standards.

Now, to the matter of RCCG setting up a directorate for politics and governance. A simple search on the internet will help opaque-thinking individuals dissect why this is a long awaited move by any religious entity. For me to put things in perspective, a background to this subject matter is requisite.

In the medieval times, the church had massive influence on the state, politics and governance. In fact, the church was so powerful that the people respected and revered the pronouncement of the church over the government of the day.

In medieval Europe, the church and the state were closely linked. It was the duty of every political authority -- king, queen, prince or city councilman -- to support, sustain and nurture the church. The church was the largest landholder and added to its power by collecting taxes.

The influence of the church was beyond holding vigils, Sunday services and evening prayers. The Church had enormous influence over the people of medieval Europe and had the power to make laws and influence monarchs. The church had much wealth and power as it owned much land and had taxes called tithes. It made separate laws and punishments to the monarch's laws and had the ability to send people to war.

As a matter of fact, medieval churches were ornate and prestigious architectural buildings and had been the focus of Christian devotion in every town or village. The church controlled the people of Europe's beliefs and determined holy days and festivals. The people who worked in the church were some of the most educated people. It was one of the powerful institutions in Medieval Europe and even had its own hierarchy. The church, because of its large power and influence, caused the Christian religion to be the most widespread belief in the world. The remnants of the once powerful religion can still be found in many places to day.

But it didn’t stop there. Ever heard of Knights Templar? For those who have read some of Dan Brown’s works like Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, Angels and Demons, etc, you will have an insight into how powerful the church was.

To legitimize the knights, on January 13, 1128, Pope Honorius II granted a papal sanction to the military order known as the Knights Templar, declaring it to be an army of God.

What RCCG has done is not new and it definitely will not be as groundbreaking as what the Catholic Church achieved but this is the catch; religious entities cannot continue to pray for a better Nigeria and stand aloof when it should actually be a part of the process.

After all, the Bible says “Faith without works is dead.” I think other churches and faiths should follow suit. They should encourage responsible involvement in the political process and should have structures that can help members contest elections. Hopefully, the churches will not be expecting to loot the country dry when their members are voted into office, hopefully the mosques will also not be expecting kickback when their members are voted.

If this is the price for people of integrity to emerge, then we can at least try it. The other ways have failed us. As for claims that the RCCG set this up for the Vice President, again it is beyond laughable. What happens if APC zones the presidential ticket to the South South, will Prof. Osinbajo claim to come from Edo or Delta state?

Who even told them that he will emerge APC presidential candidate? How many RCCG members are delegates in the APC? How many of them have PVCs or are registered to vote? Nigerians should pay very little attention to persons like this.

God bless RCCG, this step is long over due, the Muslims have been using their mosques for political campaign , Yoruba Muslims miscreants through muric have been making political statement even to the extend that muric called on local Yoruba Muslims miscreants not to vote Yoruba Christian's