CAN, Vice President and the faceless ‘demon’

The Christian Association of Nigeria has continued in its divisive role of condemning everything and anything Islam. Their penchant for crying wolf where there is none is assuming alarming stage. Of recent is the cross fire between Vice President Osibanjo and leadership of CAN over the later baseless campaign of ‘Islamisation of Nigeria’. We all thought that the exit of Pastor Ayo Oristsejafor as the leader of CAN would halts those unnecessary heating polity.
Recently, Vice President Osinbajo had told CAN that it was wrong in its conclusion that the federal government’s adoption of the Sukuk bond was a ploy to Islamise Nigeria. Speaking during a pastors’ conference in Lagos Osinbajo criticized CAN for what he described as the association’s constant alarm about Islamisation, which he said was comparable to a fruitless search for invisible demons.”
A week later, the leadership of CAN took hit back at Vice President and moves a step further in its negative campaign against Muslims. In a forum in Lagos, CAN asks national assembly to “list all international organisations that Nigeria belongs to with a view to withdrawing her membership from those that are that are religious. Part of the statement issued by CAN reads ”The forum condemns in a strong term “the government’s decision to lead Nigeria into being a member of Islamic Coalition Against Terrorism through executive fiat, Nigeria’s participation in the International Islamic Sports Federation, Nigeria’s membership of International Islamic Financial Institution of which our present Governor of the Central Bank is the chairman. Didn’t all these violate the constitution?”
There are temptations to ignore the anti Islamic activities of CAN to allow the organisation increase its spread on its fruitless propaganda. Those temptations have been overshadowed by the propaganda idiom that says “lies that are constantly being repeated might wear the face value of truth”. The reason why some of us consider it necessary to educate Nigerians that CAN as a body does not represents the interests of genuine Christians in the country.
The failure of CAN to concentrates on the core objective of shaping Christianity on the right path as a supposed Umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria is responsible for all the of confusion we are witnessing. It is a diversionary strategy to pool the wool over the eyes of genuine Christians in the country into believing that they actually protecting interest whereas the reverse is the case.
The most amusing part of the communiqué issued by CAN is the following allegations that Muslim leaders in the country have vowed: “to ensure only Muslims are elected to all political posts of member nations; To eradicate in all its forms and ramifications all non-Muslim religions in member nations (such religions shall include Christianity, Ahmadiyya and other tribal modes of worship unacceptable to Muslim). (the word Christianity is underlined in the declaration); To ensure the ultimate replacement of all western forms of legal and judicial systems with the sharia in all member nations before then next “Islam in Africa conference; To ensure the appointment of only Muslims into strategic national and international posts of member nations.
“The execution of this strategy can be recognized in countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia and Sudan. In Nigeria more and more provinces choose for the Sharia leading to heavy protests of Christians, often resulting in violence and bloodshed to both sides. In Sudan the government chose in 1983 for the Sharia, in 1991 sharpened with death punishment for apostasy from Islam.”
CAN advocacy died on arrival because it devoid all sense of logic in its constant attack on anything Islam. Are there any state in the country that is practicing Sharia? Does CAN thinks that Muslims will sacrifice their religious obligation on the altar of secularism just to please mere mortals? CAN is benefiting from the Sukuk bond they have been criticizing in the media.
For example the N100 billion naira being used for the construction and rehabilitation of 25 key economic roads across the six geo-political zones of the country is a proceed of Sukuk bond.
As rightly said, CAN should concentrate on issues that will benefit Christians and stop chasing shadows. It should works on how to instill sanity in Business Centers masquerading as Miracles Churches across the country.

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