The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
has asked Nigerians to ignore a warning made by Enoch Adeboye, general overseer
of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), calling it a “prophesy of doom”.
Last week, Adeboye warned that
Nigeria as it is presently constituted may cease to exist if killings continue.
He also added that 2019 elections may not hold.
In a statement by Ishaq Akintola,
director of the group, MURIC described the statement as a “message of doom”.
He said nations are not run on
prophesies and divisive messages but on industry, love, fortitude, unity,
honesty and determination.
“We recall that killings and
cattle rustling did not begin yesterday. These attacks have been there since
the early 60s. It was not Nigerians who were attacking themselves but cattle
thieves and criminals from neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad and Mali,”
Akintola said.
“These invasions from other
countries have continued till today due to Nigeria’s porous borders. But
Nigerians exploit religious rivalry and acrobatic religiousity instead of
engaging in diligent investigations. We are blaming ourselves for nothing.
“Still going along the lanes of
history, a few years back, Nigerian Christian leaders initially accused Muslims
in the country of sponsoring Boko Haram to kill Christians. All denials fell on
deaf ears. Foul language was used. Provocative statements were issued. Nigerian
Muslim leaders exhibited patience throughout those terrible days. Today, the
picture has become clearer to the Christian leaders as Boko Haram has killed
more Muslims than Christians (including an Emir) and destroyed more mosques
than churches.
“The truth is that both
Christians and Muslims are victims of killings, though Christians may have the
advantage of media support to use killings on its side as a propaganda tool.
The Nigerian media hardly hypes reports of Muslim deaths, nor do they report
them correctly with their religious affiliation.
“Meanwhile, Muslims do not use
their dead victims for propaganda because, as a rule, Muslims bury their dead
speedily whereas Christians delay the burial of their dead and openly display
them. But the fact is that the monkey is also sweating, but the hair on its
skin may not allow people to see it.”
Ishaq said Nigeria had become a
land where Shakespearean lines must be actualised: “When beggars die, there are
no comets seen. The heavens themselves blow forth the death of princes.”
“Thus when Muslims are killed,
the Nigerian media uses captions like “85 killed in Maiduguri Explosion” or “76
Die as Hoodlums Invade Zamfara Village”. But when Christians are killed, the
language and style change. The caption is “Fulani Herdsmen Murder 22
Christians”,” he said.
“It is for this reason that
Pastor Adeboye needs to direct his warnings at the Nigerian press, not at the
government. Government is not escalating the crisis. Their asymmetrical
reportage poses great danger to peaceful coexistence in a multi-religious
Nigeria.
“Pastor Adeboye should also note
that things are not usually what they look like from a distance. Benue militias
have been caught disguised as Fulani herdsmen. None of the hoodlums caught by
the military in the ongoing operation in Benue could speak Fulani language, yet
they dressed like Fulani herdsmen and carried AK47 rifles.
“Fake military camps have also
been exposed in the same Middle Belt. Militiamen arrested have confessed that
the Christian state governors are their sponsors. So, why does Adeboye refuse
to acknowledge the killing of Muslims? Who are the Benue and Taraba militiamen
killing?”
He, however, appealed to Adeboye
to refrain from making inflammatory statements and to also persuade his “junior
priests to water down their firebrand ‘proselytisation”.
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