CAN wants Jonathan to sanction minister over comment on religion

Posted by admin Latest Politics Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

From Niyi Bello, Akure

Oritsejafor

Cautions against retaliation

THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday urged President Goodluck to sanction the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Nurudeen, for allegedly stating that “Nigeria is one of the most Christian-populated Islamic nations in the world.”

The National President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, who spoke in Akure, Ondo State capital yesterday, urged the Federal Government “to sanction the minister who should not be a member of the Federal Executive Council in the first instance.”

Oritsejafor, who was in Akure for the National Executive Council meeting of the association wondered where the minister got his statistics that showed him that there are more Muslims in the country than Christians.

According to him, “there has never been an opportunity to have a demographic assessment of the population of Nigeria in terms of religions and anybody that pretends he has the data is deceiving himself.

“When we were about to hold the last census exercise, we insisted that Nigerians should indicate their religion in the form but these people argued against it and the then President Obasanjo appealed to us to abide with their desire. Otherwise the matter could have been settled once and for all.”

The cleric stated further: “Moreover, Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution affirms the secularity of Nigeria and the Nigerian government or any of its officials should respect that aspect. That is why I wonder where the Minister got the basis for his statement.”

On the insecurity in the country and the vulnerability of Christians and their churches to attacks from Islamic fundamentalists, the CAN president urged restraint on the part of Christians.

He admonished Christians not to retaliate but should only be vigilant. He said: “For those that are behind Boko Haram, you come to us with AK47, bombs, charms and other dangerous weapons, but we come to you in the name of God.”

Oritsejafor who delivered a keynote address at the meeting noted that Islam which was known for peace could now be described as a religious of intolerance, adding: “We will not encourage our people to carry arms against anybody whatsoever the situation may be.

“I call on all of you to be consoled that it is surely blasphemous to offer to God the things that belong to Caesar which God Himself has never demanded. Whoever is trying to exterminate Christians and Christianity form Nigeria is neither pleasing God nor His people.

“I want to assure Christians in Nigeria that Christ has always been with his people. He will never give victory to those persecuting Christians and the church.”

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