The Nigerian Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has criticised the Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN) over its demand for a Christian senate president or speaker of the house
of representatives in the 9th assembly.
CAN had asked the leadership of
the national assembly to balance the appointments of its principal officers
across religious divides to ensure
equity and fair play.
But reacting to the demand, the
NSCIA said the election and appointments of principal officers in the national
assembly have always favoured Christians to the detriment of Muslims.
In a statement by Salisu Shehu,
its deputy secretary-general, the Muslim group accused CAN of undue
interference in the polity.
“Given the trajectory of the
recent activities of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Nigerian
Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), like other informed groups and
people in Nigeria, cannot but wonder whether CAN still remains a religious body
or a political party in a religious garb,” the group said.
“The Council is persuaded to
believe the latter because of the Association’s posture as the counterfoil for
and opposition to everything Islam and Muslims in this country.
“Specifically, the statement
issued by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji on behalf of CAN is the last straw to break
the camel’s back in the Association’s ill-advised and ill-motivated
interventions in the polity.
“Is CAN suffering from selective
amnesia or is it just obsessed with chronic mendacity? Was there no CAN between
2009 and 2011 when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Justice Aloyious Katsina-Alu was the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Senator David A. B. Mark was President of the Senate and Senator Ike
Ekweremadu was Deputy Senate President? Was there religious balance in 2007
when David Mark was elected Senate President and Patricia Etteh was elected
Speaker? Was there no 1999 Constitution at that time?
“Even prior to 1999, the two arms
of the National Assembly were headed by Christians.”
The Muslim group asked the
federal government to conduct a census of all ministries, departments and
agencies of government including higher institutions to determine whether
Muslims would constitute up to 30 percent of its staff strength.
It also accused CAN of preaching
hatred against Muslims and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
It advised the Christian
association to register itself as a full-fledged political party rather than
acting “as a front for politicians who nurse the ambitions of holding political
offices.”
“The chronic intolerance and
political partisanship of CAN and its alter egos are becoming alarming as they
are ardent at purveying blatant falsehood and fake news,” the statement read.
“It is hypocritical for CAN and
its alter egos to claim to be on the side of justice by forming the ‘National
Peace Committee’ which is not surprisingly dominated by Christian clergymen.
“The pretense of the ‘Peace
Committee’ had been exposed by the various comments/actions of their prominent
members.
“All these are not surprising as
it is on record that CAN itself had maliciously referred to President Muhammadu
Buhari as a ‘bad product’.
“The indecorous and outright
partisan statement by CAN which is meant to polarize the country has created
doubt in NSCIA and any right-thinking person about the genuineness of the
partnership of CAN with NSCIA.
“All these must stop! CAN should
save itself of creating hatred in the minds of well-meaning Nigerians through
its divisive and evil-impelled interventions.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Good advice to this hypocritical body that calls itself 'Christian Association of Nigeria'.
ReplyDelete