By Gbenga Olarinoye

Osogbo—A lecturer at Lagos  State University LASU, Professor Dapo Asaju has warned that the nation’s democracy as presently constituted is hanging in the air.

Professor Asaju who is the first Nigerian Bishop Theologian, also said only religious environment can produce right leaders for the country.

While delivering a keynote address on the theme: ‘Religion and the democratic sustainability in Nigeria’ at the opening  session of the 36th Annual Conference of Nigeria Association for the Study of Religions, NASR, held at Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, the university don said honest leaders are hard to come by in the country, the development he said portends dangers for the country.

According to him, inability of President Mohammodu Buhari to form cabinet over three months of coming on board, said to have been caused by the search for people of impeccable character, tells much about the total neglect of religion as a guiding principle in Nigeria’s democracy.

Hi words: “Since the death of Awolowo, Azikwe and Amadu Bello, have the tribes they represented been able to raise leaders that are generally acceptable to all? No. The absolute democracy the country imported from America and United Kingdom will spell doom for the country.

“Absolute democracy does not take care of Nigeria’s peculiarities because before government came to being, the rulers of people, the Obas, Obis and Emirs used to consult the Divine Being before taking decisions.What we have today are rulers that are not of God.”

The national chairman of NASR, Dr. Musa Adeniyi, in his address, said the choice of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, as the host of the event was significant because the association was formed in the institution in December, 1975.