Anambra poll: Labour leaders caution clerics over utterances

Labour leaders in Anambra on Wednesday cautioned clerics not to turn the house of God into a political arena.

In a statement jointly signed by the chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Patrick Obianyo;Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Justin Okoye and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Mr David Ezeugwu, the group accused religious leaders of bias.

They accused some bishops and priests of turning the house of God into a political arena, adding that days were gone when churches called out to their members to pray God to give them a leader who had the fear of God.

'These days what we hear is vote for this person or the other based on perhaps the highest bidder syndrome.

'That is just not good for our spiritual emancipation. It also accounts for the spiritual harlotry that is rife in our society today.

'If the church insists on turning the house of God into a political arena, be assured that organised labour will help you do that well,' they said.

The labour leaders added that the religious leaders should remember the wrath of God on the household of Eli over his silence in the face of his children’s iniquities.

They said that no bishop or priest from any of the Christian denominations had spoken openly on the matter affecting the organised labour in the state.

'Are workers in the state not Christians? At least 98 per cent of them are contributing to the growth of the churches.

“If bishops can intervene in political disputes, are they not aware of the cries of workers of this state?' they queried.

They, however, encouraged the workers to continue to maintain balance to contribute to the development of the state in spite of  being subjected to almost slavery in their own state.

'You are called upon to remain steadfast in prayers for nothing is permanent, for in those dark ages of our time, there was a bold inspiration in the Delphic oracle,'' they said.

Reacting, the  Diocesan Catholic Chancellor of Awka, Rev. Fr. Peter Akaenyi, said the Church remained apolitical and would not join issues with the organized labour.