Is CAN a religious party? Recently, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the controversial leadership of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has called for the immediate arrest of former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 general election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. The General, in an interview with Kaduna-based radio station Liberty Radio on June 1 discussed issues of national importance, including the menace of the Boko Haram and the alleged atrocities committed by the Joint Task Force in the sect’s stronghold. This is what Gen. Buhari said in response to request for him to had dialogue with Boko Haram: “I don’t know their Philosophy because no religion advocates killing the innocent people. So all those people giving it a religious meaning are wrong. You can’t kill a person and say ALLAHU AKHBAR (God is Great); it is either you don’t know what you are saying, or you don’t believe in it, it is one of the two.’’ I wonder what wrong the pastor saw in the above statement. Is Pastor Oritsejafor campaigning for somebody? Or is CAN now a religious wing of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party? Every sensible Nigerian (north and south) knew that Buhari’s essential message was neither religious nor ethnic; he is a man with unquestionable character who is ready to provide no quarter to criminality and rascality, and an upright and intolerant to corruption. In 2011, the controversial clergy made a proclamation during the post-election violence that it is part of Muslims religious agenda to be violent, why? When the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) made its readiness to introduce Islamic Banking System (non interest banking), Pastor Oritsejafor opposed it, ignorantly I suppose without fully understanding its meaning. He says that it was an attempt to Islamize the country; for God’s sake, what does non-interest banking have to do with Islamizing Nigeria? And up till now, no apology has been made. In fact, Pastor Oritsejafor is of the paranoid belief that Boko Haram is sponsored by some northern elite to eliminate Christians and christianity, which i don’t agree with, if so, are the Christians the only victims of Boko Haram menace? Go to Kano, Yobe and Borno states to see what’s happening, in fact, the highest number of casualties of Boko Haram menace is that of Kano of january last year where more than 300 innocent people (mostly Muslims) lost their lives in an attack by the sect. Wanteregh Paul Unongo, who happens to be the vice chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum, has accused Mr Oritsejafor for misleading the Nigerian president over the amnesty issue for the sect. Many are of the belief that CAN under Archbishop (now cardinal) Joseph Onaiyekan was far better than now because he does not involve the religious organization with political activities unlike now. Cardinal Onaiyekan, who maintains cordial relationship and mutual understanding with Muslims throughout his tenure as CAN president, is known as an advocate of peace. I would like the present leadership of CAN to do the same for the interest of the nation. Therefore, it is as a result of this that I will advice the CAN president to become fully aware that no sensible Nigerian (Muslim or Christian) is in support of the activities of the sect; and I agree with Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, Second Republic governor of Kaduna State, who said that Boko Haram does not have a religious agenda, but a political one. General Buhari anyway did not say that killing Boko Haram members was unjust, but rather, that loss of innocent lives in the name of crushing the sect is worrisome, and that the use of excessive force is not the best option. The stick method should not be the only option; the carrot method should also be applicable. Even his comparison with the amnesty given to Niger Delta militants was justified because he said that the repentant militants were empowered with different skills acquisition programmes at public expense. Every Nigerian knows that some militants were even sponsored abroad to pursue their respective programmes to the extent that some were deported back to Nigeria as a result of indiscipline, while some were given billions of naira contracts to protect oil pipelines, despite the fact that it is the duty of the Nigerian Police and the Navy to do so. To sum up the Genera, who happens to be ‘damaged brand’ according to one columnist, was misunderstood by CAN. I believe it is illogical and unfair to call for his arrest. Abubakar wrote from Kaduna < rillyboy@yahoo>
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:57:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015