Inter-Faith group tackles Christians, TY Danjuma over allegations
By The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organisations for Peace (NIFROP) has reacted to the recent claim by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigerian Army and the Police to recruit rehabilitated Boko Haram members into their ranks.
Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on media CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, said it had information that a number of ex-terrorists were allegedly being considered for recruitment into the Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army.
Reacting to the claim, the NIFROP said it is worried by the abuse of religious groups that are now being deployed as cannon fodder by political clerics
The group said Oladeji’s claim is targeted at stirring the fire of hatred among Nigerians.
Bishop Edward Chanami, National President of the Group while addressing the media on Sunday in Abuja, noted that the claim was the handiwork of the devil and not deserving of being associated with any group that professes faith in God.
NIFROP also took a swipe at a group of Christians under the aegis of National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), championed by a former Minister of Defence, Lt Gen Theophilus Danjuma (retd), and Solomon Asemota (SAN), who recently warned that Christianity in Nigeria may cease to exist in 25 years from now (2043), beginning in 2018.
Danjuma’s group said that the present generation of Christians may be the last set in Nigeria.
Chanami, while reacting to the claim, said it is sad that some persons parading themselves as Christians elders are stoking the embers of war in the country
He said: “It is also alarming to mention the activities of supposed elders either in the Church or any sane society led by Lt. Gen TY Danjuma [rtd] and some other Christian folks perpetually stoking the embers of war in the country. Neither did our Lord Jesus Christ or Apostle Paul ever in the scripture embarked on this destructive path to defend the Church. Our weapons of warfare are not carnal and we demand that they review whatever scriptures they are reading as Christians before we destroy the country.
“Ordinarily, we had hoped that the era where CAN or any other religious organisation was deployed as an attack dog for the government or the opposition was over only for this to happen. Our concern over this matter is that the events that led to a CAN president being linked to gun running and money laundering began on similar notes. It started with the CAN leadership being used as an extension of a ruling party only for it to eventually become the errand boy for the importation of weapons of destruction.
“We are also speaking out because we have reliably gathered that the lie about recruiting Boko Haram members as soldiers and policemen is the first in the series of negative propaganda for which CAN has been recruited. It is similar to the brief it ran under the past administration. It must be noted that Nigeria cannot withstand another campaign of lies and hatred spewed from hallowed pulpits that should have been proclaiming the good tidings of God’s infinite love.
“It is equally pertinent that we prick the conscience of the clergy in Nigeria. Religious leaders critical stakeholders in the global drive to curtail the evil of fake news so where do we stand as a people if those who should condemn fake news have become its purveyors? On what basis should the faithful believe the admonitions of a clergy that lies for whatever reason? The days are indeed evil.
“These series of falsehood coming from CAN have become the impetus for the rest of us to ask that organization of believers not to continue acting like a political party. Those who wish to join one political party or the other should resign from the leadership of CAN to do so that the exalted name of God will not be blasphemed.
“We realize and admit that the anti-corruption stance of President Buhari has impacted donations to religious institutions and causes. The resulting drop in the revenue available to religious institutions calls for Thanksgiving because it means proceeds of corruption, unholy offerings, are no longer finding their way into the house of God. Whatever hardship religious organizations may be facing should be considered as being purified by fire for the years that we allowed stolen money to be mixed with the harvest of God. Those who decide to concoct lies against the Government of the day because they are bitter over this development should repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
“May we, however, point out that we are not standing in judgement over those who decided to lie even as clergymen. We will rather that they repent and thread a new path of repentance; that they will act in accordance with the promptings of the song we shall be singing as we close this press conference. As leaders of faith, we should continue to be instruments of peace and this should not be too difficult a task for those currently leading CAN.
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