A public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has warned that religious and traditional leaders in Nigeria could be held responsible if the 2027 general elections turn violent.
Shehu made this known in a post shared on his official X handle on Friday, where he criticised what he described as the growing involvement of clerics and royal fathers in partisan politics.
According to him, many of these leaders are no longer acting in the interest of peace or national development, but are instead driven by personal gain.
“Most royal fathers, men and women of God are openly or silently involved in politics not for God and country, but for personal survival, greed and cowardice,” he said.
He accused some religious and traditional leaders of hypocrisy, alleging that while they preach peace publicly, they allegedly support actions that promote division behind the scenes.
“They preach peace in public while promoting division, violence and destruction in private,” he added.
Shehu also claimed that many of them have shifted focus from spiritual responsibilities to material pursuits.
“Like most politicians, they are competing in the acquisition of estates, mansions, exotic cars and even medical tourism abroad,” he said.
He further alleged that some leaders have become distant from the people they are meant to guide, describing them as unapproachable and arrogant.
According to him, such behaviour undermines their moral authority and weakens their ability to promote unity, especially during election periods.
Shehu warned that if the 2027 elections are marred by violence, religious and traditional leaders would share in the blame.
“If anything goes wrong with the quest for peaceful 2027 elections, most royal fathers and men and women of God will be substantially responsible and will not escape the consequences,” he said.
He urged them to reflect on their roles and choose integrity over material interests, stressing that leadership comes with accountability.
