The presiding pastor of Livingspring Chapel International, Pastor Femi Emmanuel has said many Christian leaders focus too much on a candidate’s religion instead of competence, despite lacking political involvement.

Quoting Romans 10:2, he said in an interview on TVC News’ Beyond the Headlines, “My people, fellow pastors, fellow general overseers, they are very passionate about this country. They work hard, they believe in this country, they love this country. But when it comes to politics, they’re completely ignorant.”

The man of God questioned the push for a Christian president, saying: “How will a Christian candidate emerge when Christians are not in party? This is party politics. You can’t get a credible candidate if you don’t have credible delegates. You don’t have delegates if you are not at the ward meeting, the grassroots.”

According to him, “Christians are not there.” He added, “You are not where laws are made, you are not where policies are implemented, but you are shouting from the pulpit, that is shouting from the back of the fence.”

Pastor Emmanuel also referenced former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying: “In 2019, it was not just Christian-Muslim ticket, it was Christian-pastor ticket. Our brother and friend, Pastor Osinbajo, very cerebral, very brilliant, very outspoken. But what did he bring to the body as a church? What can he bring? Our constitution says the vice president is a spare tire.”

He continued: “So what Christians are arguing for, we want a vice president. What would that bring to the church? Nothing… the vice president, according to the constitution, is a spare tire. He’s a king in waiting.”

He maintained that the focus should be on “competence, credibility.” Asked if God can only use Christians to lead a nation, he replied: “No, no, and no. What you should be thinking about is a God-fearing person, a credible person, a father.”