*Says what made Muslims vote for Obasanjo, Jonathan will make true Christians vote for Tinubu, Shettima
*CAN an unregistered political party masquerading as a religious body – MMWGN
*Says CAN, PFN behind division of Muslims, Christians in Nigeria
*… they say good things at Inter-Religious Council, Inter-Faith Dialogue meetings but preach hatred and divisiveness on the Pulpit.
By KEMI KASUMU
“All the great benefactors mentioned here were Muslims, who empowered known, committed and dedicated Christians without minding the fact that they are committed Christians! The negative reactions of some Church leaders and fanatical Christians would not make Muslims in Nigeria to change their good attitude toward Christians.”
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWGN) has condemned in strong terms the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), while also accusing it of causing disaffection and disunity in Nigeria.
The Group stated this Thursday in its reaction to a statement credited to the Vice President of CAN Rev. Joseph Hayab, which he made Wednesday stating that the Christian religious leaders that were present at the unveiling of Senator Kashim Shettima as Vice Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) were hired to attend the event in Abuja.
According to the reports, Hayab claimed that Christian religious leaders that attended the event were not known to CAN.
The Group queried why they need to be known to CAN or Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) or any church, asking whether Nigerians would vote on the basis of church or Mosque.
The MMWG asked, “Why were they silent over Christian-Christian tickets in Southern States of the Country for the past 42 years ( i.e. 1979 to date) but now crying over Muslim-Muslim ticket now! It stated that with 18 Political Parties in the Country, CAN and its cohorts have condescend so low to campaign against a political party when 17 others are available for them those that believed in their campaign of divisiveness.”
In a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Group described as unpatriotic and condemnable CAN’s belief that true christians would support its divisive roles in the nation’s polity.
It stated that responsible Nigerians would not toe the line of CAN, adding that since Nigeria’s independence both Muslims and Christians have never voted based on religious lines rather, they have been voting based on their conscience stating further that what informed Muslims voting for Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan would guide true Christians to vote for Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023.
The Group wondered why a religious body like CAN could believe that all the adherents of Christian faith in Nigeria would vote for a Christian as President, when religion has never been the yardstick used to determine who to vote for, adding that competence, capacity and capability have always determined who to vote into office.
MMWG described CAN as an unregistered political party masquerading as a religious body and that its attempt to set Nigerians against themselves using politics would bounce back negatively on it, as its campaign of calumny against a political party and its candidates is devilish, unprogressive, unpatriotic and irrational, it said would fail.
The Group called on true Muslims and Christians in Nigeria to ignore the divisive campaign of CAN and vote for the candidates of their choice in the forthcoming general elections, as CAN’s religious bigotry and fanaticism is irreligious and condemnable, it stated.
The Muslim Media Watch stated further, ”Today, Nigerian Muslims are proud to have contributed to the successes of thousands of Christian leaders of today having been assisted to greatness by various Muslim personalities, notable among which are the Vice President, Professor (Pastor) Yemi Osinbajo, who benefitted greatly from Prince Abdul-Jabbar Bola Ajibola – Former President of the World Court at The Hague and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Also, Late Buruji Kashamu and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who were nurtured among thousands of others by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Aleogo Raymond Dokpesi – the Proprietor of AIT Television and Raypower FM Radio Station, who also benefitted from Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as well as Mr. Olusola Akanmode – the Chief of Staff to Atiku Abubakar, who was Vice President in 1999 to 2007, to mention but a few.
“All the great benefactors mentioned here were Muslims, who empowered known, committed and dedicated Christians without minding the fact that they are committed Christians! The negative reactions of some Church leaders and fanatical Christians would not make Muslims in Nigeria to change their good attitude toward Christians.
“At this point, we must commend the nationalistic and patriotic views expressed on Muslim-Muslim ticket by Prof. Pat Utomi, Mr. Sam Omotseye, Mr. Babajide Kolade Otitoju and Pastor Tunde Bakare who have behaved as intellectuals that could not be swayed to backing Christian fanaticism and fundamentalism at the expense of good leadership we are envisaging for Nigeria.
“The irreligious Islamophobia of CAN, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Rev. Joseph Hayab as well as others in their clique would eventually back-fire on them as true Christians would sooner than later recognise their enemies,” the statement said.
The MMWG warned that it is unchristian to spread message of hate and blackmail against Muslims as it would surely work against the spreaders because, Nigerians are more sensible than to yield to the campaign of calumny and disaffection of CAN.
It added that the Christian Association of Nigeria and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria have been brain behind the polarisation of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria these days as they say good things at Inter-Religious Council and Inter-Faith Dialogue meetings but preach hatred and divisiveness on the pulpit.
MMWG concluded by stating that the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and other Islamic organizations in Nigeria would continue to be epitome of values and virtues for Nigeria and “will NEVER condescend so low as to turn themselves into partisan political party organ, as we are more patriotic, dedicated and committed the Nigerian Project of returning the Nation to its past glorious days instead of backing political candidates for morbid, selfish and personal gains as CAN is doing!.
“Muslims in Nigeria would not because of bad attitude of CAN stop their good relationship and kindness to our Christian brethren because it is our religious duty to do what we are doing,” MMWG concluded in the statement dated 22nd Dhul-Hijja, 1443 AH equivalent to 21st July, 2022 CE.
