Isaac Idahosa, the presidential running mate to Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said his 33 years experience in church politicking will add value to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2023 presidential election.
Mr Idahosa said this on Tuesday while appearing on Politics Today, a prime-time political programme on Channels TV.
He was picked as running mate to Mr Kwankwaso on July 14 after the alliance talks with Peter Obi and Labour Party failed.
Mr Idahosa, who is from Edo State, is expected to provide balance to the candidacy of his principal who is from Kano State. However, the popular cleric has no political experience.
When asked about his lack of political experience, Mr Idahosa said in the church, managing people requires more than spiritual power.
He added that politicians who worship in his church also bring their problems, expecting solutions. All these, he said, have prepared him for the task ahead.
“I have been a pastor for 33 years. There is what you call church politicking, that is to say, after your spiritual assignment, you deal with people across the nook and cranny—the Hausas, the Igbos, the Edos, the Kanuris. So you have them in Church. You have to manage them, you have to learn how to manage people and their resources.
“The preaching aspect of Christianity is different from day to day running — the management of the church is not left for the spirit, you have to use your mind. When you can engage your mind to resolve conflict in the church, wider space, you cannot over emphasise the need for human management in our churches today.
“Politicians worship in churches and I have got politicians in my Church. They bring their problems, hoping to get a solution. If you cannot provide solution to problems……That is the same thing you do to human capacity development,” he said.
