Christian Association leader harps on peace, justice, inclusivity, says “No religious crisis in Borno”
By OUR REPORTER
Borno State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Reverend John Bogna Bakeni, has stated that there is no religious conflict between Christians and Muslims in the state.
The CAN Chairman, who is also the Auxiliary Bishop of Catholic Church Maiduguri Diocese, stated this during a high-level meeting convened by the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, at Government House, Maiduguri.
The meeting was attended by prominent Islamic scholars under the leadership of Jama’atul Nasrul Islam and by Christian clerics under the auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
The religious leader emphasized unity and peaceful coexistence as a collective responsibility, citing 15 years of insecurity that bedeviled the state.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s solutions must come from within, as no foreign country can solve our problems, and warned against the dangers of damaging misinformation and misleading narratives.
Below is the full text of his remarks:
The people you have gathered here today, both from the Muslim and Christian sides, are people who have the heart and the minds of the people. If at our level, as leaders both on the Christian and Muslim sides, we get it right, then our followers will also get it right.
What you (Excellency Governor Babagana Zulum) have already said—that you are going to be interacting and engaging with us, religious leaders, in every governance—serves as a mirror for leadership because of our prophetic calls as clerics. Probably, we are the only ones who can speak truth to power and tell you things as they are. This journey that we have started, not just today; we have been meeting with my brothers (Muslim clerics) at different fora.
You’re convening us today, and what is contained in your speech, if realized, then Borno is going to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria, and that is my prayer. Let me say that both as Muslims and Christians, God does not need us to fight His wars for Him. What God wants and needs us for is to be instruments of peace, of His compassion, of His love and unity. Both religions believe and know that God is all-powerful.
So, we the religious leaders, once we preach—as His Excellency has enjoined—if we preach truth and love, then this will trickle down; we have the hearts and minds of our followers. Your Excellency, I want to thank you for bringing us today, and I want to thank you for the sacrifices and leadership you have provided to Borno State in this difficult and challenging time. We know the sacrifices you make, the sleepless nights you go through, sleeping outside of your seat.
When one sees you, one sees a leader who loves and has a passion and compassionate heart for his people. I want to assure you of our support, the entire Christian community in Borno State and beyond. We are with you, we are praying for you, and may God grant you the wisdom to lead us as you have always done in this difficult and challenging time.
Our country is on a global map now, and there is a lot of information that is going out. I will enjoin us, the religious leaders, to talk to our leaders. Nobody can solve our problems from outside; we are the ones that can solve our problems. America, England—nobody can solve our problems. If what His Excellency says here today, if we take it to heart and implement it, we are going to have a peaceful society.
Your Excellency says you have demonstrated inclusion and justice for all. These are the two things I want to end on. Let it become more visible: Christians and Muslims are included, and then there is justice for all. It will make governance easier for you, and for us, we will do the work of lining up our people behind what is right. We must be careful of the dangers of a single narrative.
Are Christians and Muslims fighting in Borno State? No. Do we have challenges that affect both Christians and Muslims? Yes. So, who is the enemy? We must be very, very careful. Journalists are calling, people are calling, but we must not destroy our state; we have gone through a lot.
Our leaders have sacrificed so much; we cannot decide to throw away all the hard-earned effort. Let us work for peace with justice in our land, and I believe God is going to help us.
“Thank you, Your Excellency. We look forward to further interactions and engagements so that collectively we will contribute our bit in building a peaceful and prosperous Borno State.”
