Oritsejafor Blames, Northern Govs, Leaders For Attacks

Posted by admin Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Latest Politics, Religion Sunday, January 8th, 2012

Warns Against Civil Strife

Following the incessant attacks on Christians and Southerners in the Northern Part of the country, The President of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has blamed Northern Governors and leaders for the terrorist attacks against innocent Nigerians.

Accusing them of not doing what they suppose to do to protect the lives and property of the people in their state, he expressed fears that another Civil War may be in the offing if the attacks persist.

Addressing the press yesterday in Abuja during an emergency meeting of the Executive members and heads of churches in Nigeria, Orisajafor asked Christians to defend themselves and take necessary security measures to prevent further attacks.

In his words “We therefore as Christians decided to take our fate in our hands, and has resolved as follows: We have decided to work out means to defend ourselves against this senseless killing and Christian faithful should continue in prayers and be security conscious”

“Reports received around the country have brought out the following observations, that their have been continuous killings of Christians and southerners in the following towns, Suleja and Madalla both in Niger state, Damaturu, Yobe State, Gombe Gombe state, Mubi Adamawa State, Jemita also in Adamawa state, Potiskum, Yobe state and continuous killing of Christians in Borno State

”That the patterns of this killing suggest to us a systematic ethnic and religious cleansing, that we are reminded of occurrences of these killings of the Genesis of the civil War that took place in Nigeria, if we look back we would remember that this was exactly how it began, killings like this in different places and urging the southerners to leave the north, gradually exploded into a Civil war; we are seeing the same thing happening now.”

He added: “We draw attention to the fact that CAN and Christians in this country have exercised patience and continue to do so at great expense; we have continued to call on Security agencies and political office holders to assist us in stopping this senseless killings to no avail.”

The CAN helmsman accused the governors of not doing what they have to do to protect lives and property of people in their state as their Number one responsibility.

He said: “We consider the actions of governors of these states to be unsatisfactorily and we hold them responsible for this heinous killing of people taking place in their state, and we are not taking it lightly.”

“From the report reaching us, a lot of our leaders approach them and they won’t listen and would not talk to them (leaders). In some states, some traditional leaders would not even listen or open their doors to them, we don’t accept it, and we believe that if Nigeria is for us all, then if you are a Nigerian, wherever you are in any part of the country, you must be treated as a Nigerian. So we are holding the Governors of such states responsible for such killing.”

Oritsejafor said Christians have the legitimate right to defend themselves and must do whatever it takes to protect themselves.

He said declaring a State of Emergency in all the affected states has not abated the killings.

“So we have to do what we have to do to protect ourselves. If they (government) are not doing it adequately we may do what we have to do to protect ourselves, we cannot sit back and watch people being slaughtered like animals.”wp_posts