Political Analyst and Environmentalist, Shedrach Udugbai, has urged Nigerians to look beyond religion when choosing their leaders, warning that religious sentiment has been one of the major factors hindering the country’s progress.
He made this statement while speaking in a video interview shared by Symfoni TV, where he reflected on the divisive nature of religion in Nigeria’s politics and his personal experience during the 2023 presidential election.
Udugbai revealed that he was heavily criticized by some of his peers and associates for supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim ticket of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima during the 2023 election. According to him, many Christians advised him not to support the ticket on the basis of religion, but he maintained that his political choices were guided by competence, not faith.
In the viral interview, Udugbai questioned the logic behind using religion as a yardstick for political loyalty, stressing that Nigerians must focus on electing capable leaders who can deliver good governance regardless of their faith. He dismissed the notion that having a Christian or Muslim in power automatically guarantees progress or fairness.
He said, “I asked them what did Prof. Yemi Osinbajo give to me as a Christian when he was Vice President. Even Bible cover I didn’t get to show that, oh, the Vice President is a Christian. All of these things are tools being used by politicians. It has no reality on good governance.”
Udugbai explained that his statement was not meant to disrespect the former Vice President but to highlight the futility of expecting personal benefits from leaders simply because they share one’s religious beliefs.
He emphasized that politicians often exploit religion to manipulate the masses and distract them from issues that truly matter such as accountability, justice, infrastructure, education, and economic stability.
“Religion has become one of the easiest tools for manipulation in Nigeria,” he said. “When a politician wants to win, he goes to church and shouts hallelujah, or he goes to the mosque and says ‘Allahu Akbar,’ and immediately, people begin to see him as their own. But after the elections, they forget the people and focus on enriching themselves.”
Udugbai lamented that this form of political manipulation has prevented Nigerians from holding leaders accountable. He argued that the country’s development challenges have little to do with whether its leaders are Christians or Muslims, but rather with their policies, priorities, and willingness to serve.
He added, “Good governance is not about who prays the loudest or who attends the most religious gatherings. It’s about creating opportunities, providing jobs, ensuring security, and building infrastructure that benefits everyone, regardless of their beliefs.”
The political analyst further urged citizens to stop using religion as a weapon to divide themselves. According to him, both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria suffer the same hardships unemployment, insecurity, and poor living conditions regardless of who occupies the top political offices.
“Whether a Christian is in power or a Muslim, when there is fuel scarcity, we all queue together. When prices go up, we all pay the same amount. Hunger doesn’t care about religion,” he noted.
Udugbai concluded by calling on Nigerians, especially the youth, to adopt a more issue-based approach to politics. He said the future of the country depends on citizens who can rise above religious and ethnic sentiments to demand competence and integrity from their leaders.
“What Nigeria needs is not a Christian or Muslim president; what we need is a leader who cares, who listens, and who is willing to fix this country. Religion should be a personal matter, not a political strategy,” he said. See, More, Here>>>>
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