MR PRESIDENT: STOP MARGINALISING THE CHRISTIANS: PLEASE MARGINALISE US MUSLIMS, says VANGUARD FOR ISLAMIC PROPAGATION (V.I.P) In the Daily Newswatch of September 11, 2013, the ubiquitous and ever loquacious President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejeafor granted an interview. It was vintage Oritsejeafor with all the trademarks of a combative man of God. As usual, he made some unguarded and provocative innuendoes directed against Islam and the Muslims of this country who he unrepentantly hates with a great passion. The area of our concern is his ranting that Christians have been marginalized and are second class citizens in Nigeria. When lies, half-truths and deliberate falsehoods are given repetitive proclamations, they eventually become the truth in the subconscious mind of Homo sapiens if records are not put straight. The leaders of the Muslim Ummah (God bless them) have allowed Oritsejeafor to attain the status of a hero of a sort in Christendom. For the sake of peace and tranquility as well as not to heat up the polity, they have allowed him to continue to insult the intelligence of an average Muslim with vitriolic vituperations and reckless abandon. Who is being marginalized and who is marginalizing who? Oritsejeafor is like an Alsatian dog to the powers that be by acting the script produced from the Presidency as part of the Christo-Niger Delta agenda. Only Alhaij Abubakar Mujahid Dokubo Asari is seen as a Niger Delta jingoist and irredentist but we make bold to say that Pastor Oritsejeafor is worse because of his age. If one says Mujahid Dokubo Asari who is just about 50 is suffering from youthful exuberance, can one rightly say the same of a septuagenarian? In any case, Mujahid is a hero of the Niger Delta cause who can claim to have taken an uncommon risk, put his life on the line to get the sympathy of Nigerians to concede the Presidency to an Ijaw man. At that time some clergy men were not courageous enough to take the gauntlet and crossword with a cantankerous and tyrannical military oligarchy. In fact, they were always at Aso rock to pray for the survival of that regime because of the largesse that went in its wake. If Oritsejafor says Christians in Nigeria are being marginalized, it is either his understanding of the English Language is poor or the word marginalization has lost its meaning. Muslims in this country have been too lily livered, cowardly and docile in fighting for their primary legitimate rights. And that is why some people can run their mouths riotously and get away with it. This has to stop. We shall provide facts and figures. All the Service Chiefs in the Nigerian Military are Christians: The Chief of Army staff is Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; The Chief of Naval Staff is Rear Admiral Dele Ezeobe while the Chief of Air Staff is Air vice Marshall Alex Badeh. This is marginalization of Christians according to Oritsejeafor! Mr. President, stop marginalizing the Christians. Marginalize the Muslims and let all the Service Chiefs be Muslims! In order to continue his marginalization of Christians, the marginalized Christians at the top of hierarchy of the military ensured Christians are equally marginalized in the recruitment into the armed forces. In the shameless and unwholesome marginalization of Christians in Nigeria, out 381 students admitted recently to the elite Nigeria Defence Academy [NDA] only 246 out of 381 were Christians, a mere 65% while the lucky Muslims got the “lion” share of 135, which is 35%! Even in Muslim majority states of Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Kaduna and Gombe the statistics are as follows: Adamawa, 8 Christians and 2 Muslims; Borno, 6 Christians and 5 Muslims; Taraba, 9 Christians and 1 Muslim; Kaduna, 9 Christians and1 Muslim and Gombe, 6 Christians and 5 Muslims. That is the marginalization of Christians Pastor Oritsejafor is talking about. When next there is recruitment in the NDA let the Muslims be marginalized and let the allocation of Muslims be 65% and Christians be 35%! So, Pastor who is being marginalized, the Muslims or the Christians? Pastor Oritsejeafor should know that in the marginalization of Christians in the South by the Presidency all the Ministers from the South are Christians, namely: Abia : Barrister Emeka Wogu Akwa Ibom: Prof. Ita Ewa Anambra: MS. Stella Oduah Bayelsa: Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke Enugu: Prof. Chinedu Nebo Ekiti: Navy Captain Olubolade (Rtd) Cross River: Edem Udo Ondo: Mrs Omobola Olubusola Rivers: Mrs.Amman Pebble Ogun: Dr. Akunwumi Adesina Oyo: Ms. Olajumoke Akinjide Delta: Mr.Godsday Orubebe Ebonyi: Prof. Oyebuchi Chukwu Imo: Prof. Viola Onwulri Osun: Erelu Olusola Obada Anambra: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. Some may argue that selecting Christians in predominantly Muslim states like Nassarawa where Labaran Maku was selected and Taraba where a Christian Darus Ishiaku comes from is not an aberration. Why was a Muslim not picked from Imo or River State? We want a reversal; let the Presidency marginalize us and make all ministers from the South, Muslims. Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo Asari can be appointed from Rivers State since he hails from Buguma. In the ultra-marginalization of Christians, 95% of the Chief E x e c u t i v e s O f f i c e r s o f F e d e r a l G o v e r nme n t Boards/Commission/Agency/ Parastatals are Christians as follows 1. NIMET – DR. ANTHONY ANUFOROM 2. NNPC – ENG. ANDREW YAKUBU 3. NIMASA – PATRICK APOLOKEMI 4. PENCOM – MRS. CHINELO ANOHU AMAZU 5. FERMA – ENGR. CHUKWU AMUCHI; 6. DPR – MR. GEORGE OSAHON 7. BANK OF INDUSTRY – MS. EVELYN OPUTU 8. IGERIA CONTENT DEV. AGENCY – ERNEST NWANPA 9. CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY – MRS. DUPE ATOKI 10. NCC – ENGR. EUGENE JUWA 11. NAMA – NNAMDI UDOH 12. NCAA – ENGR. AKIKUOTU 13. FAAN – GEORGE URIESI 14. NCAT – CAPT. CHINERE KALU 15. SEC – ARUMA OTTEH 16. SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND – UCHE ORJI 17. NAFDAC – DR. PAUL ORHIL 18. FIIRO – DR. [MRS]. G. N. ELEMO 19. MARITIME ACADEMY OF NIGERIA, ORON – JOSHUA OKPO 20. RAILWAY CORPORATION – ENGR. SEYI SIJUWADE 21. NIGERIAN TOURISM DEV. CORPORATION – MRS. SALLY MBANEFOH 22. BUDGET OFFICE OF THE FEDERATION – DR. BRIGHT OKOGWU 23. NERDC – PROF. GODSWILL OBIOMA 24. NEXIM – MR. R. R. ORYA 25. STANDARD ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA – DR. JOSEPH ODUMODU 26. NIGERIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION – EMEKA NKEM MBA 27. INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND – PROF. LONGMAS WAPMUK; 28. NATIONAL UNIVERSITY COMMISSION – PROF. OKOJIE 29. NESREA – MRS. N. S. BENEBO 30. MDG OFFICE – DR. PRECIOUS GBENIO 31. SURVEYOR GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION – PETER CHIGOZIE 33. STATISTICIAN GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION – DR. YEMI KALE 34. ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION – MR. JONAH OTUNLA 35. AUDITOR GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION – SAMUEL YONONGO UKARA 36. NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY – MIKE OMIERI 37. NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA – OLUREMI OYO 38. NEPC E/S – DAVID I ADULUGBA 39. NEPZA – MR. OLUGBENGA KUYE 40. BPP – ENGR. EMEKA EZE; 41. BPE – BENJAMIN EZRA DIKKI 42. FHA – ARC. SEVER GEMADE 43. NOSREA – SIR PETER IDABOR 44. FRSC – OSITA CHIDOKA 45. NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION – FESTUS ODUMEGBUM 46. NYSC – BRIG. GEN N. T. OKORIE ATTIAH 47. PPRA – STANLEY REGINAL 48. PETROLEUM EQAULIZATION FUND – MRS. ADEFUNKE SHARON KASATI 49. PTDF – DR. WOLE OLULEYE 49. NIGERIA ELECTRICITY REGULATORY AGENCY – DR. SAM AMADI 50. NIGERIA SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENSE CORPSDR. ABOLURIN 51. IMMIGRATION SERVICES – MR DAVID PARADANG 52. STATE SECURITY SERVICES – ITA EKPEYONG 53. CHAIRMAN FEDEARL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION - DEACONNESS JOAN AYO 54. DEBT MANAGEMENT OFFICE – DR. ABRAHAM NWAKWO 56. NAICOM – FOLA DANIEL 57. NATIONAL IDENTITY MANAGEMENT COMMISSION – CHRIS ONYEMENAM 58. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY – EZEKIEL OLANIYI OLADEJI 59. NATIONAL BOARD FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION – DR. OLATUNDE AWOTOKUN AWORANTI 60. NIGERIA DEFENSE ACADEMY COMMANDANT – MAJOR GENERAL C. O. ONWAMAEGBU 61. JOINT ADMISSION AND MATRICULATION BOARD – PROF DIBU OJERINDE 62. REVENUE MOBILIZATION AND FISCAL ALLOCATION – ENGR. ELIAS N. MBAM 63. NAPTIP – MRS. BEATRICE E. JEDYAGBA 64. NATIONAL SALARIES, INCOME AND WAGES – R. O. EBULE 65. NATIONAL EYE CENTER, KADUNA – DR. D. O. ADEJOR 66. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION – PROF. BEN ANGUE 67. NATIONAL AGENCY FOR CONTROL OF HIC/AIDS – PROF JOHN IDOKO 68. BOARDER COMMUNITY DEV. AGENCY – ENGR. NUMOIPRE WILLS 69. NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ARTS AND CULTURE – MR. MWAAJIN MALGWI 70. NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY CENTER – DR. PAUL BIDLHJOH 71. NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CULTURAL ORIENTATION - DR. BARCLAYS FUBIRI 72. NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCE LEGAL STUDIES – PROF. EPIPHANY AZINGE 73. TEACHERS REGISTRATION COUNCIL – PROF. A. M. NWOKOCHA 74. NATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRIC MECHANISATION – ENGR. I. I. AZOGU 75. LEGAL AID COUNCIL – MR. J. S. BOB MANUEL 76. NIGER DELTA DEV. COMMISSION – CHRISTIAN OBOH 77. NATIONAL POWER TRAINING INSTITUTE – ENGR RUBEN OKEKE 78. RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEV. COUNCIL – PROF. A. P. ONWUALA 79. NATIONAL EXAMININATION COUNCIL – PROF. PROMISE N.OKPALA 80. OIL AND GAS FREE ZONE AUTHORITY – VICTOR ALABO 81. NATIONAL DEFENSE COLLEGE – REAR ADMIRAL T. J. LOKOSON 82. NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGENCY – PROF. C. O. ANGAYE 83. SHADA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX – PROF. S .A. THOMAS 84. NATIONAL ANIMAL PRODUCTIVITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – PROF. AMBROSE A. VOH 85. COPY RIGHT COMMISSION – BARRISTER AFAM EZEBUKE 86. INVESTEMENT AND SECURITIES TRIBUNALS – DR. NNENA ADAEZA 87. NSRDC – PROF. GODSWILL OBIOMA 88. ENERGY COMMISION OF NIGERIA – PROF. ELI JIDERE 89. RURAL ELECTRIFICATION – ENGR. K. C. ACHUGBU 90. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS – PROF BOLA AKINTERINWA 91. NIGER-DELTA POWER HOLDING CO. – JAMES OLOTU 92. NATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY – PROF. B. O. SOLOMON 93. MICHEAL IMODU INSTITUES OF LABOUR STUDIES - DR. JOHN OLANREWAJU 94. NIGERIAN GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AGENCY – PROF S. MALOMO 95. ARMED FORCES RESETTLEREMT CENTRE, OSHODI- AVM C.E, ARIORIORE Let Oritsejafor tell his boys in government to marginalize Muslims by appointing them into these positions. If the ebullient pastors inveterate animosity for Islam should stop, he would not concentrate his efforts only in antagonizing Muslims and find his voice only when Boko Haram strikes. Other equally important National issues will engage his pastoral attention. Some Muslims have nick named him Pastor Boko Haram. As a supposedly man of God who should give dispassionate admonition on the ills of the society, one would have expected him to be vocal on issues like Fuel Subsidy scandal, the Pension Fund saga, the Stella Oduahgate armored vehicles palaver, the National Assembly wage debacle that has put the Nigerian economy in a doldrums. The alleged stealing propensity in the NNPC that runs into trillions of Naira, the billions of dollar allocation to Power Sector and the embezzlement of which stinks to high heavens and of course the ASUU strike that has turned a lot of our idle children to easy tools in the devils workshop. But how can a man of God who flies a private jet, who is swimming in incredible opulence have the guts to virulently condemn corruption and other unwholesome ills in the society? Let him assist the Muslims in our plea to be marginalized like the Christians!!! ANOTHER CHRISTIAN GOVERNOR FOR LAGOS STATE? The media is recently inundated with a cacophony of unreasonable, undemocratic and untenable demand for a Christian Governor in Lagos state in 2015. One cannot but see the hand of Pastor Ayo in this, taking into cognizance his pedigree for fomenting trouble in terrains where peace reigns supreme. Casting a retrospective glance, a case in mind was the Press Release he engineered in which it was categorically stated that the Borno State government was planning to demolish over 20 Churches to give way for the construction of 1000 housing units. This was to say the least a move to provoke a religious mayhem in a state already embroiled in unfathomable violence and unbridled volatility of Boko Haram insurgence that has soiled Nigerias reputation as the hotbed of religious terrorism. In the Daily Trust newspaper of 12th of September 2013, the Chairman of CAN, Borno State, Reverend Titus Pona had to douse the tension at a Press Conference in Maiduguri where he said the alleged planned demolition of 20 Churches was the figment of the imagination of the CAN at the National level!; Enough of the digression. Let us state without any fear of being contradicted that Babatunde Fashola, the Governor of Lagos State, is one of the best things that has happened to democratic governance in this country. Maybe next to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who by far is the most creative and most dynamic Governor in Nigeria. Incontestably, Rauf is in a class of his own. Unequivocally too Babatunde Fashola is amazing in his superlative performance in governance. But In terms of Islamic credential any Muslim worth the name would regard his name Raji as a nick name rather than an Islamic appellation. He is more prominent in Christian programmes than many Christian governors. He organizes Christian activities like Christmas Carols, Christian New Year, Christmas Party without a corresponding organization of same during Islamic festivals like Mauloud , Hijra Festival, Eid Fitr and Eid-Kabir parties for Muslim children. He has also donated fortunes to the coffers of many Churches at the inglorious expense of Islam to appease the god of Christendom; but are they appeased? So what else do Christians expect from a Christian governor like Fashola alias Raji that he has not done? Above all, using the Boko Haram phenomenology as an excuse, he developed a negative brain wave and demolished all the Mosques within the government secretariat except the Central Mosque which he knows is sacrosanct, the demolition of which would have snowballed into a religious crisis of indescribable proportion. What psychological trauma would a Christian governor have unleashed on Muslims greater than the audacious and fatuous demolition of their places of worship? What we have discovered in history is that the enemies of Islam especially in the Western world have strategically developed an obsession for given awesome support to Muslims at the corridors of power with Christian wives through which they can manipulate their husbands. President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, King Hussein of Jordan, Yasser Arafat of the PLO, President Boumedien of Algeria, President Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia to name a few, married Christians through which they were manipulated to work against the Islamic cause. Many of the so called Muslim governors are married to Christians through whom anti-Islamic policies were forced through the throat of the gullible Muslim populace. Fashola is a Muslim yet he said shamelessly at a press interview that his wonderful wife had converted all his children to Christianity and his childrens only allegiance to Islam is fasting with him in Ramadan. This is the Muslim CAN wants to replace with a Christian fundamentalist come year 2015. We however wonder why in a democracy and after many years of unpalatable military interregnum devoid of peoples choice CAN is still undemocratic in all ramifications. One would have thought that without constituting a nuisance to democracy they would surreptitiously behind the scene mobilise their members to contest primaries in all the political parties gallivanting all over the place with their sugarcoated tongues. We make bold to say that this tendentious approach of whipping unnecessary primordial sentiment of putting a Christian at Alausa Government house is subversive and good Christians should come out and condemn it. These nattering nabobs of negativity say Christians are more populous than Muslims in Lagos. If this is true, Democracy is a game of number, let them use their numerical superiority at the next election to outsmart and outnumber the Muslims instead of shouting at roof tops over religious marginalization of Christians that is inexistent. It is however laughable for Christians who mostly marry one wife and have a maximum of three children to claim numerical superiority over Muslims who can marry up to four wives and have numerous children. Was there a recent epidemic that wiped out a substantial number of Muslims in Lagos state? We hope Lagos Muslims are not in a state of somnambulism. Most of your political generalissimos are attached to the apron string of their Christian wives who remotely control them. You need to come out and challenge the bravado of a section of Christendom, propaganda for propaganda, shouting for shouting. A word is enough for the wise. Good Christians and there are so many of them should not play the ostrich but take the bull by the horn and call Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor to order over his provocative statements which unfortunately because he is a celebrity , stupendously rich and well-connected at the top make headline news. They are incubators for a religious earthquake. May Allah save this country from agents of its disintegration? Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni (Coordinator) Sheikh Abu Mustapha Abdulwahab (Publicity secreta
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 19:31:46 +0000