OYEDEPO SERMON: APOSTLE OGU WARNS COLLEAGUES AGAINST "UNWHOLESOME ALLIANCE WITH POLITICIANS" Fiery Port Harcourt, Rivers State based clergy and former Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in the state, Apostle Eugene Ogu, has warned religious leaders against unguarded and inciting utterances in the run-up to next month's general election. Apostle Ogu, founder of the Abundant Life Evangelical Mission, lamented perceived infiltration of churches by politicians, warning that the trend portends bad omen for the offices of men of God, which he said, should naturally be the last hope of the ordinary citizen. Speeaking with SOB against the backdrop of recent statement credited to the Bishop David OYEDEPO in Port harcourt on Tuesday, he said, "I want to warn Christian religious leaders on the unwholesome alliance with politicians. The manner in which some Christian leaders have given themselves wholesale to politicians is inspiring and compelling them to speak without caution, fact and consideration for the will of God, without consideration of the laws of the land. It is becoming a great concern and can create an integrity question to the entire body of Christ in Nigeria. "The office of a man of God is more of the last hope of the common man than the court because even the woman caught in the act in the bible and the condemned armed robber at the cross all met Christ and found life, freedom, peace and were accommodated. He did not order that stone should be thrown at the woman." Apostle Ogu further warned adherent of the Christian faith in the various congregations to be careful not to regard the words and utterances of their pastors and church leaders above those of the God, adding that Christians must be focussed on the words of God and not on the teachings of men. The man of God described the run-up to the general election as very challenging moment in the annals of the country, likening it to a "war between light and darkness, between the rich and the poor, the oppressed and oppressor and a battle of the corrupt and masses." He warned against sentiments fanned under the embers of religion, tribe, sectional interests, stressing that wisdom and sincerity must dictate what is right and wrong about the nation as well as help voters to discern between black and white. "No Nigeria needs a prophet to tell him what is white or what is black. Under no unction or prophesy can a sincere, enlightened citizen of this country believe that God has said what is black is white and what is white is black. "This kind of political atmosphere will be charged with high level desperation, which will lead to fabrications, inventions, manufacturing of all manners of lies both scientifically, spiritually and demonically all in a very subtle way to mislead the already oppressed and impoverished citizens of this great country. "It is not in doubt that Nigeria's problems is leadership or that over N200 naira now exchanges for one dollar and there is no doubt that there are no jobs. The only business that works today is government. The rich are becoming richer and the poor are getting poorer and there is no doubt that 60 -70 percent of university students are involved in what is called 'school runs' to survive. "No doubt that Nigerian has blown billions of dollars in the power sector, yet we still do not have light. A peaceful Nigeria has seen more bloodshed than other African countries in full blown war and we don't know what to believe when our leaders and government speak to us. "It is not in doubt that our hospitals and schools are nothing to write about when compared to even other African countries. The money being spent by Nigerians in schools in Ghana is now funding that country's education sector. "I use this medium to appeal to those of us in the altar to concentrate and pray for God's intervention; educate and enlighten our sons and daughters in this critical moment in time to vote rightly in order to express whether we are being properly led or not and not to use it to cajole, intimidate and frighten congregation in order to make us remain in this long time captivity that yearns for change. "What Nigeria needs today is those that will tell the truth the way it is; those with passion and courage to contribute their quarter to the freedom of this country. Just as I believe that our days of freedom is near, I pray that the day comes fast. God who knows the hearts and feelings of the oppressed will not allow falsehood to keep us longer in this terrible state we find ourselves. "Let's watch and be careful of what we hear see or read on TV, paper and altar because even an 'angel' may be hirelings or have deceitful intention to deceive the masses. So, let us rise gallantly, vote rightly, vote away darkness so that God may save us."