Do not mix religion with politics, Okorocha cautions

WORRIED by alleged incursion of some religious leaders into partisan politics, Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has urged clerics to remain upright, uplift the spiritual wellbeing of society, and abstain from comments that detract from the message of God.

Okorocha, represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, made the appeal, on Tuesday, at the Jubilee Anniversary of Assemblies of God, Bethel Seminary, Nekede, Owerri West Local Council Area, noting that the church should concentrate on the teachings of Jesus Christ and praying for government to succeed.

He said: “The Church should not be dragged into politics because once this happens, there is no more hope for the masses.”

The District Superintendent of the Church, Rev. Mitchel Onwuzurike Ashiole, noted that church needed to teach children good morals to guild them not to go astray.

Meanwhile, disturbed by recent reports of alleged professional misconducts among some journalists in Imo State, the state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its chairman, Chief Innocent Igwe, has read a riot act to its members, threatening to slam sanctions on those found wanting.

In a statement signed by its secretary, Emma Odibo, after the state congress met at the weekend, the union decried the conduct of some journalists, who indulged in conducts capable of dragging the image of the profession into the mud.

According to the statement, “in as much as the union was not against censorship, it would defend any member that is on the right track, urging all the practitioners to remain upright by upholding the truth, objectivity and fairness in reporting issue at all times.”