CAN incurs wrath of Muslims for asking Nigerian govt to exit Int’l Islamic bodies

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has incurred the rage of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) for demanding that the Nigerian government should exit its membership of all International Islamic organisations.

CAN had made the demand in a recent meeting organised by its President Samson Ayokunle in Lagos and attended by its leaders as the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo; the General Overseer, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Archbishop Mike Okonkwo; former CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; among several others.

CAN had also called on northern states to issue certificates of occupancy (C of Os) to churches in the North.

But furious with CAN’s demands, MURIC director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, responding in a statement he made available to newsmen, described the Christian body as being ridiculous.

He said, “CAN is hallucinating. It is laughable, untenable, kindergarten and quixotic. This is reminiscent of the eponymous hero of Don Quixote de la mancha. CAN is manifesting symptoms of orubebemantis.”

Akintola wondered how CAN will be calling on northern states to issue certificates of occupancy (C of Os) to churches in the North when mosques are being demolished in the South East and South-South. And when the states in those regions have refused to grant Muslims C of Os and infringe constantly on Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslim minorities in their midst.

“For instance, a tertiary institution in the South East has demolished the only mosque on the campus and refused to allow the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) to operate.

“MURIC warns the National Assembly (NASS) to ignore CAN’s call for its intervention. An anti-Muslim National Assembly will shoot itself in the foot sooner than later. Nonetheless, should the NASS show any interest in CAN’s demand, it should beam its floodlight on all Western oriented international organizations like the United Nations (UN) as they have always been used as tools in the hands of Western crusaders while their religious bias is always hidden.

“MURIC therefore accepts CAN’s demands with the proviso that: Nigeria should withdraw from all Western oriented international organizations like the UN and WHO.

“National Assembly should study Nigerian work-free days with a view to dropping the religious ones like Sunday and Saturday (Saturday is also used by the Seventh Day Adventists) and; Nigeria should also drop all Christian landmarks like the cross as sign in hospitals, academic gowns in tertiary institutions, wigs and gowns used by lawyers and judges, etc.

“The leaders of CAN have consistently displayed lack of readiness to coexist with Nigerian Muslims. They want the country only for themselves alone. They have refused to listen to the voice of reason. The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, himself a pastor, told CAN that the allegation of Islamisation is an illusion. CAN refused to listen. Femi Falana asked CAN to Christianise Nigeria instead of alleging Islamisation everyday but CAN will not listen.

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“Who says Nigeria is not Christianised? What system have we been forced to use since the advent of the colonial master to date? What is the religion of our colonial master whose system we have adopted hook, line and sinker? Why are Muslims being forced to write examinations during Jumat service on Fridays?

“Why are Muslims at the mercy of their employers every Friday? Is it not because Friday is not a work-free day like Sunday? Muslims have been tolerating all these for so long. Let us start working on Sundays and Fridays for a change and see if CAN will find it funny.

“In conclusion, MURIC calls for a Nigeria that does not lean towards any religion in any aspect of its life. Enough of this hypocrisy. Those who Christianised Nigeria are the ones shouting the loudest about Islamisation. It is time for CAN to have a taste of its own pudding,” Akintola said.

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