‘Bridging the missing link between the Clean Election Campaign & the intended audience’
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 11
“We have a really, really difficult future if we do not address election malpractices. If we do not fight this, the church as an institution will also suffer,” said Dr. Pangernungba Kechu, professor at Oriental Theological Seminary speaking at a Clean Election drive today in Dimapur.
As the resource person, Dr. Kechu was speaking on the theme - ‘The role of Christian leaders in response to Clean Election’ at a seminar organised by the Dimapur Christian Forum (DCF) in collaboration with Peace Channel at the NEISSR, Bishop’s House, Dimapur. It was attended by pastors from various churches of Dimapur and also members of the Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF).
A member of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council’s Clean Election Committee, Dr. Kechu cited reduced rhetoric, persistent and applicable hands-on strategy as the way to go for the Clean Election Campaign (CEC) to gain the people’s trust. “If the church leader preaches with conviction, I think our work is half done,” he said, while terming pastors and church leaders as the “torch bearers of the campaign.”
He though admitted to the magnitude of the work at hand, describing it as very challenging. The challenge, he said, is the election system itself - the manner in which it has evolved, has been abused and institutionalised the wrong way “by a mixture of many factors” over the decades. “God is the owner of our lives, not our clan, not out village. Unfortunately, we have put God in the back seat.”
While the approach and strategy could be varied, he said that the focus has to be on mobilising commitment and leadership and pricking at the conscience of the people. This is where the role of church leaders and workers come in, he said.
When pointed out that there is an apparent gap between the campaign and the intended audience, Dr. Kechu admitted there is and it has to be bridged. Working out the dynamics required in tandem with filling the “missing link” in the form of roping in the village/colony councils, women and youth leaders would fill the void, he said. He added that this would involve training volunteers, going house to house and having personal interactions.
The job however is easier said than done. According to him, fair and clean elections will not happen overnight. “Election malpractices have affected all the life-system of the Nagas and so it will take several generations to clean up the mess. Because of this reason, we should not expect the campaign to bring about an immediate and radical social transformation.”
There may not be tangible and visible changes as yet; nevertheless, the campaign has become a household name, he added. According to him, the people would still take money but with a pinch of guilt.
“Let’s not approach the campaign with a holy (holier than thou) and self righteous attitude, let’s approach the clean election campaign in the spirit of repentance.”
Pledge sticker for the campaign jointly conceptualised by the churches in Dimapur, DUCCF and the GBs Union was also launched at the seminar. DUCCF secretary, Simon Kelio, dubbed the sticker as a symbolic gesture against corruption.
To further the campaign, it was informed that a programme will be organised on November 17 to which inter-denominational church leaders/pastors, colony council chairpersons, GBs, women and youth leaders has invited to attend.
