Monday, 2 January 2012

CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (CAN) AND IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP UTTERANCES AKIN TO RECKLESS POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA

Do we know the meaning of and functions of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), it is an umbrella organization containing numerous Christian denominations in Nigeria of which Ayo Oritsejafor, Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, is the President and Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Organization of African Instituted Churches, is Vice President.

Can you imagine a statement on the website http://www.anglican-nig.org/CANreact.htm
“At no point has the Church ever initiated any of these crises. Its not because of cowardice or lack of knowledge of what to do, but because our religion expects us to love our neighbours as ourselves and to be at peace with all people so much so that when we are smacked on the left cheek we turn the right cheek.
But now we warn, let no one take this for granted any longer because, there is a limit to which you can push a people. Christians have been pushed to the wall in this country and we are making it clear that Christians have no other place to call their own except this same country, Nigeria.”
Jesus Christ would be very ashamed of the kind of people who head the Nigerian Christian community,  Emancipate Nigerian NOW is appalled and very shocked
Again I humbly ask, what is Christianity, it is a teaching that Jesus is the Son of God, God having become human and the saviour of humanity.  and because of this, Christians commonly refer to Jesus as Christ or Messiah. Jesus Christ never in his life preached violence in asserting the Kingdom of God, then why would a so called leader like Ayo Oritsejafor utter a statement  “that the Christians will henceforth defend themselves if Boko Haram should attack any church again”. By our faith, who is our protector and guide. Despite the wide condemnation of the Christmas day Madalla bomb blasts and that of other places by the Sultan of Sokoto and a host of other Muslim leaders, CAN president went ahead to say that the Muslims leaders did not condemn the bombings. Does he not know that those who have been bombing churches are the ones that have declared war on Nigerians and not Christians and that this statement is an unguarded utterance and is intended to incite and instigate Christians against Muslims in Nigeria. Where was Ayo when MEND bombed Nigerians, October 1 2010, Where was Ayo during the Eid-Fitr celebration that preceeded the month of Ramadan in Plateau State where Muslims were attacked, killed and maimed. Ayo should not be narrow minded as the leader of an organization that represents three thirds of the Christian community in Nigeria, his statement is even more dangerous than these acts committed by boko haram.  Emancipate Nigeria NOW hereby calls for the resignation of Ayo Oritsejafor and all his executives from CAN because they have not exhibited leadership qualities and Christ-like behaviour thus cannot represent Christians in Nigeria while inciting them to war promoting sectionalism and tribalism. The Christmas day bombing at Madallah was shameful and a crime against God, humanity and Nigerians and should be seen as such by Ayo Oritsejafor and the leadership of CAN.  CAN of all people are in the position to understand what boko haram really stands for, and that is to terrorize Nigerians,  it is not a religious group, but a sect against the Government of Nigerian, just like MEND, OPC or even Egbesu.  

In today’s News column we see Boko haram bomb Mosques and Ayo is mute on the issue.  A responsible religious leader should try finding common harmony in our religious diversity in Nigeria.  It is no longer new that we are all citizens of Nigeria.  Our future depends on responsible leaders in all areas of Nigeria looking for ways that will keep us together and forge us into a very strong union of which disenchanted and embittered  sects and groups like OPC, Egbesu, MEND and Boko haram will not be able to infiltrate and scatter.

Emancipate Nigerian NOW is against Bad leadership in all facet of Nigerian public life, and once again strongly condemn Ayo Oritsejafor’s and all religious leaders who profess provocative statements and placate all Igbos , Christians and Muslims that Boko haram is a Nigerian menace, a cancerous sect brought about by some disillusioned minority political class.  It is only our unity that will bring Boko haram down.   Our inept security forces are very overwhelmed and need our unconditional support and assistance.  Let us condemn violence and those inciting us to violence,  War is not a good thing, rather let us concentrate our energy in rooting Boko haram and other destructive sect and groups out of our society.   Let us condemn irresponsible leaders like Senator Ndume, Pastor Ayo Oritsejefor and others out there who cause disunity and incite and instigate us to further madness exhibited by sects like boko haram.

Emancipate Nigerian NOW calls on all Nigerians at home and abroad Christian and Muslims,  all ethnic groups and all political and economic divide to be proactive and do everything possible to help our weak central Nigerian government and inept/overwhelmed Nigerian security forces to end this menace called boko haram. We should guard against provocative statements that will further inflame the already high tension caused by the Christmas day bombing. God help us and keep Nigeria United.

Emancipate Nigerian NOW is not a religious group neither is it a political movement.  It is a movement against bad and responsible leadership in all facets of Nigerian Public life.  Be it religious, political, ethnic or economic.  Irresponsible leadership is the bane of Nigerians problems experienced today.  The advent of sects and groups like boko haram, OPC, Arewa, Egbesu, MEND, and others is as a result of either disgruntled leaders or citizens reacting to reckless leadership in Nigeria today. 
We own it a duty to let those who represent us, represent us well and sensibly.  Statements altered and actions must be cautiously done by those elected to represent us.  They have tons of advisers at tax pays expense to make sure that they represent there constituencies very well.  This does not leave out religious leaders all over Nigeria as the place of worship is a constituency in itself. Economic leaders and ethnic leaders are also not left out.  

Nigerians, be careful who you elect to represent you and your families least they lead us to war and destruction.

No comments:

Post a Comment