The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja,
John Cardinal Onaiyekan has said that those behind the allegation peddled in
some quarters about the Islamization of Nigeria were people desperately
struggling for positions of authority and power in the country.
He also said that, as far as
Nigeria was concerned, there would be no victor between Christians and Muslims
if religious war breaks in Nigeria.
He disclosed this in Abuja on
Wednesday at the annual conference of the Nigeria Anglican Roman Catholic
Commission (NARCC) with the theme; “The Church as Communion, Local and
Universal.”
Commenting on the allegations
that Nigeria would be Ismalize, he said: “As a Christian, we live in a country
where at least so far, we have every right to practice our faith, not just
practice it as an individuals privately but publicly and not only practice it
but propagate it and that is the right that we have under the constitution.
“We are doing evangelization work
and nobody can stop me or others from doing that and I must say no one has
stopped me yet from doing that.
“The question of Islamization or
no Islamization; in my own opinion depends on what you are talking about and
the angle you are looking at. If every time a Muslim is appointed to a
position, we say Ismalization, well, that is one way and in that case,
therefore, anytime a Christian is appointed, we should also be prepared to hear
people say Christianization.”
Continuing, Bishop Onaiyekan
said: “In my own opinion, I think this is a matter that is not basically
religious, it is a matter of the struggle for positions and power which is not
bad because everybody has right in this regard.
“Those who are Christians have
right to fight for their right in the Nigerian setup and the right to fight for
anybody you think is not properly treated.
“Those who have made these
allegations of Ismalization have listed out the reasons why they have made such
allegations but I hope you are aware that on the other side too, they have
listed out their own.
“This kind of game doesn’t help
us because as Christians are listing out allegations, there are Muslims who
would come and list out allegations of Christianization, at the end of the day,
it is not about Christian or Islam, it is about who gets what job.
“I would advise Christians to be
good citizens and they should insist on their rights and there should be enough
of always bending over for fear of losing your own selfish advantage.
“I don’t think it would be good
for any of us to declare a religious war of Christians against Muslims. I don’t
think it is a war that the Christians or the Islams would win, the only person
who would win is troublemakers who fish in troubled waters but for the rest of
us, all we want to live our lives in peace. They should allow us to live in
peace.”
On the lopsidedness in
appointment to some key positions, he said: “Those who are our rulers should
realize that whatever they do, they should make every effort to make it
balanced and not give room for anybody to begin to input on them, intentions of
a bias direction for our country.
“This is even dangerous for those
concerned, if a group of people who are in government now happened to be Muslim
and they are doing things simply to please and to promote Islam, they must get
ready for when a Christian would be in power and he would also begin to do the
same but is that the way for the country to move forward?
“Those ruling us should be aware
that the way country is now, every single appointment, promotions and others
are watched by the whole country and they should make sure that they do not
give any group or person reasons to think or believe that they are being
marginalized or badly treated.
“That is what the President and
all those with him swore by whatever book they swore on, that they would run
the affairs of this nation without fear or favour.”
The Bishop also advised
Christians to fight for their right wherever they find themselves.
“Christians should also fight for
their own rights too. If you are in an office and things are not going well and
appointments are made in an ill manner, fight for it but if you sit there and
you are afraid to talk so that they would not target you and in order for you
not to lose the little you have, then you have admitted to being a slave and I
don’t expect you to complain,” he said.
On the perceived division and
differences in church, he said: “We should make sure that it does not lead us
to take actions that are diametrically opposed to what the Christian faith is
all about which includes love for one another, goodness and solidarity.
“Divisions amongst Christians
would affect the progress of the country and even tie the hands of Christians
and make them no longer as capable as they should be.”
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Archbishop Onaiyekan, you "practice and propagate Christianity" and you see the way and manner Christians are murdered at all times and you say there's no islamization. Are you honest with yourself? You don't want get killed, do you? How much were you paid for this sermon of yours?
ReplyDeleteI believe if the archbishop is posted to maiduguri for a year, he won't go public saying this same thing
ReplyDeleteI think, the archbishop is not aware to waht is happening to Christians in the North, the wanton killing in Benue, Kaduna, Bornu. And the recent crocordile that is dancing in the East. Let him stop politiking.
ReplyDelete