MURIC, in a statement by its director, Ishaq Akintola said it is unbecoming of men in the house of God to issue threats which are likely to lead to massive bloodshed, describing it is “irrational, infantile and ungodly.”

MURIC said that the leaders of CAN want to give cheap victory to Boko Haram, stressing that nobody need an expert in international diplomacy to interprete the scenario on ground. “Boko Haram is using every available means to cause a war between Nigerian Christians and their Muslim neighbours. That was clear in the initial attacks on churches. CAN leaders swallowed the bait at that time and they started accusing Muslims of sponsoring Boko Haram. Muslim leaders were patient.

“CAN did not stop accusing Muslim leaders of connivance until they saw that Boko Haram was actually killing more Muslims than Christians. This Leah Sharibu incident is Boko Haram’s last card along the same mission and we expect CAN leaders to know better. But CAN cannot. CAN has its own political agenda. Or does it really make sense? The hoodlums abducted girls and released all except the only Christian in their midst. It is part of the terrorists’ propaganda. They are anarchists seeking to throw the nation into higeldy-pigeldy. Can’t CAN get it?”

MURIC says it strongly suspect that CAN is deliberately creating a conundrum. “Leah Sharibu was abducted. Who abducted her? Boko Haram. Muslim leaders have rejected Boko Haram. Muslims are also victims of Boko Haram. CAN now wants war. Against who? Against Muslims. Is it logical? Does it make sense at all? CAN is playing into the hands of Boko Haram. It would have made a little sense if CAN had said, “Boko Haram refused to release Lear Sharibu. Therefore we are going after Boko Haram insurgents. Sambisa Forest here we come.”

The group said that the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar, said ab initio that Boko Haram and all terrorists are evil and called on all Nigerians to join hands with him to fight this evil. “But now instead of fighting the transparent evil, CAN wants to fight the Muslims. We assure CAN that millions of Muslims will join if it makes a more responsible statement like asking Muslims to join Christians in invading Boko Haram hideouts in Sambisa. MURIC is ready for that.

“We are constrained to ask what kind of neighbours are CAN leaders? Why are they always threatening fire and brimstone? Is this bully complex compatible with the pastoral profession? Is it acceptable as a quality among religionists? We call the attention of the whole world to the belligerent attitude of Nigeria’s Christian leaders. The rest of the world should take note now so that it will be clear who is stoking the fire of war.

“CAN appears to be having a conflict of identity with its mission and vission running riots. Religious leaders are not expected to behave like young students seeking attention. We can understand when student leaders call for aluta but elderly men in cassock singing songs of war calls for serious introspection in order to avoid, among other things, the concomitant loss of respect even among followers.

“Come to think of it, where was CAN when General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd) as head of state ordered the killing of Odi people in Benue State? Where was CAN during the tenure of ex-president Jonathan when Boko Haram killed hundreds of Muslims and displaced thousands in the North East? Was CAN on sabbatical when hundreds were killed in the recurring Pleauteau communal killings before 2015? Were those thousands of lives lost during those periods not worth protesting for?

“So CAN can make noise now because a Muslim is in power? But CAN could look the other way when Christians were in power, particularly when the billions were flowing in the immediate past regime and Jerusalem trips were shorter than walks from home to church? We can understand this particularly now that the pecuniary tap in Aso Rock is dry.”

MURIC counselled that instead of threatening war, the responsible thing to do as religious leaders is to dialogue with the government of the day in order to know its challenges. It says CAN is behaving as if the arsenal of weapons brought in via several clandestine flights in Jonathan’s days are yearning for use.

“All we heard was that one flight to South Africa scandalized Jonathan and Ayo Oritsejafor, the former president of CAN. We have evey reason to believe that several other flights had been successful before then and even after the exposure. Only those who have been preparing for war against their neighbours for years will be so bellicose and so daring.

“MURIC does not issue threats but nobody under the sun can make us tremble. It is not in our character. We face our destiny as Allah has designed it. Neither do we plot evil against our neighbours. We are ever willing to coexist peacefully with our Christian neighbours. Different faiths should not be the cause for hostilities. We have so many things in common. Humanity is numero uno among those things we have in common. After all, we are all from Adam and Adam was from ordinary dust.

“We call on world leaders, the US, Britain, etc, to note the excesses of Nigerian Christian leaders. In particular, we invite Christian leaders in the West African subregion to counsel their brothers-in-Christ. We call for prayers for the innocent girl, Leah Sharibu. Let us pray that Allah will veer the terrorists’ minds towards setting her free within a very short time. Let us pray for her safety. Let us also pray for the safe return of the remaining Chibok girls.”

The group pleaded with Christians from all walks of life to make CAN leadership see reason. “What do they want to gain from war? The leaders of CAN should also be told to put their own children in the forefront when the war they threaten breaks out. CAN should stop all these attention-seeking gimmicks. We charge CAN to wage its war against Boko Haram ‘the evil’ and not against innocent, law-abiding and peace-loving Muslims. Aso Rock’s current landlord has no billions to doll out. Unlike his predecessor, he does not spray public money.”

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Already, some groups with the association have vowed to do everything to stall Oritsejafor’s plan to amend the constitution of the body to suit his third term ambition and “turn CAN into his personal estate.”

Already, our correspondent gathered that all the officials of the Association throughout the country are warming up to make sure that Oritsejafor’s third term bid fails during CAN’s meeting schedule to hold in Abuja on Tuesday.

“The current President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has commenced move to amend the constitution of the Christian body with aim to give room for third term tenure,” said a source close to CAN’s leadership at the weekend.

The source further told our correspondent that should the Third Term ambition fails to sail through, the flambouyant clergy is already working on Plan B, which to make himself a lifetime Chairman of board of trustees.

“Already, the CAN President and his team have drafted the constitution to create more blocks in CAN so that the third term bid for Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor can be realized or he becomes life Board Chairman of the CAN.

“If the agenda did not go through, they (CAN officials) would postpone the election till further notice. This is the antics of the CAN President who is scared of facing trial over his involvement in the Arms deal and other financial scandals and want to hide under CAN.

“He does not want to be investigated by President(Muhammadu) Buhari and wants to remain in CAN to get Christians’ support and sentiment; that is why he is pushing for constitutional amendment now knowing that his tenure will soon expire in less than five months.

“Already, there is clause in the current constitution that forbid any amendment until a Six month notice is given to all the blocs of CAN. So, there is no way we can review the constitution now,” the source who insisted on being anonymous told our correspondent.

Besides, New Mail learnt that many Christian leaders are already considering legal action should Pastor Oritsejafor insists or induce State representatives to vote in favour of his “illegal and unpopular constitutional amendment during Tuesday’s meeting.”

However, another CAN member told our correspondent that other option being considered by those opposed to Oritsejafor’s Third Term plot, is to mobilize like -mind Christian leaders to form a new Christian body that will stand for truth and righteousness.

Chairman of the Northern chapter of CAN, Professor Daniel Babaye admitted that a constitution amendment is being considered but declined knowledge of the third term clause in the plan.

“We had our northern CAN NEC meeting. We also know that the new draft constitution will recognize Northern and Southern CAN but for the third term? No, it would not even scale through,” he told Newsdiary Online in Kaduna.
It will be recalled that president Oritsejafor has serve CAN for two terms as the president of the Association.

Curiously, however, the presidency is being dragged into the CAN leadership brouhaha, with a group alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and President Muhammad Buhari are plotting to instal a northern president for the association.

A group of Christians under the umbrella of Christ Redeemers Union, claimed that the Presidency was interested in CAN election for some selfish reasons.

The National Director of CRU, Dr. Ebenezer Olusola Abednego, told journalists on Sunday in Abuja, that Christians would resist any plan by the Presidency to instal its candidate in CAN Presidency

“Our determination to resist Buhari and APC in determining who becomes President of CAN is a battle of No Retreat, No Surrender. A top official in the Presidency, who is spearheading the campaign, has started deploying resources for logistics towards ensuring the emergence of a church leader in the Northern part of the country believed to be friendly to Buhari.

“The government official funding some religious leaders in the North who have been recruited as foot soldiers to perfect the strategy. There is tension now in CAN and the action of the Presidency has polarised the association along North – South dichotomy as Northern religious leaders are being lobbied to support the plot,” the group said.

Olusola explained that the APC government was desperate to ensure the emergence of its candidate in CAN who will lead the Nigerian Christians community.

“We have it on good authority that any leader being installed by the Presidency in CAN would avoid any virulent criticism of the Buhari government and this has informed their desperation to install a leadership that will not be critical.

“But we are vehemently opposed to government meddling into a purely religious affairs and should the Presidency succeed in installing an APC/Buhari stooge in CAN, we will pull out of CAN. We are ready for them, we have it on good authority that some Muslim leaders from the North are behind the plot. But by the power in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, every knee shall bow and they won’t succeed,” the group said.

Oritsejafor, who has served CAN for two terms as the president was engulfed in the controversy that trailed the botched arms deal with a south African firm during the last year of the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan.

His closeness to the presidency at the time, coupled with the arms scandal makes him a likely candidate for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s investigations in the ongoing multi-billion dollar arms fraud probe.

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Already, the Katsina State Urban and Regional Planning Board has handed down a three day notice to demolish the church which also has a school and staff quarters.

Our correspondent gathered that Katsina state government is preparing to construct a road that will pass through the church compound, but the Christian Association of Nigeria; ECWA President and Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria (Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians), have vowed to resist the action which they described as “pure persecution of Christians.”

A member of ECWA church told journalists in Abuja that the planned demolition is already generating tension that could cause a religious crises.

In a letter titled “Stop Notice” from KURPB signed by one Hussain A. Lawal (Development Control Manager) for General Manager dated January 6 2015, and received by ECWA Trustees, it stated that “You are hereby advised to stop all the development work at Matazu ECWA Church.

“It is believed that you are proceeding with development of the site without the necessary legal requirements of planning permission from Katsina State Urban and Regional Planning Board or in violation of such permission.

“If you are developing the site without planning permission, or in contravention of conditions of such permission granted, you are committing an office. In receipt of this notice, you should stop such development work with immediate effect and present a formal application for planning permission to the Development Control immediately.

“Your application must include three sets of all plans including clear site/location plans and a photocopy of the Certificate of Occupancy or any document of ownership and your current tax clearance certificate. At the time of issuance of this notice, the stage of your development is seven (7) courses of cement construction.

“Failure to act within three (3) days of this notice may result in further action by the Board. This notice will cease to have effect only after the issuance of planning permission by the Katsina State Urban and Regional Planning Board.”

But the indigenous Hausa/Fulani Christians in Matazu LGA have told Governor Ibrahim Shema to revisit the proposal of a road to be constructed through ECWA Mission Compound by Matazu LG.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Dr. Yunusa M. Matazu said, “The proposed road will only succeed in dividing the compund into two as the compund is not a thoroughfare as such leading to nowhere.

“We contributed money and fenced the school and Staff Quarters to prevent theft and sexual harassment facing both staff and students within the compund. Therefore the proposed road will open the compund to unauthorized persons thereby exposing the Staff and Students to security risks.

“We hope Your Excellency will use your good office to intervene on this matter and stop the construction of the road. This will cement the already existing peaceful living atmosphere within the community.”

Reacting to the development, CAN President, Ayo Oritsejafor, who said the planned demolition exercise was all because of the forthcoming general elections, urged Nigerians to rise against such injustice.

“I am very upset about this; it is very unacceptable because this is pure religious persecution. It is all about the forthcoming 2015 general elections. This is democracy, people have freedom to support any candidate of their choice. This must not be allowed in Nigeria.

“There are certain candidates that are heating up the polity and causing problems. There are certain people in the country, especially in the North who cannot vote according to their conscience; they are being compelled to vote in a certain direction.

“That is why CAN believes that some of these people are just deceiving Nigerians when they decide to make Christians their running mates because of elections. This is pretence and cover-up.

“We know their antecedents and their real person. They put on a few clothings so to make them different when everyone knows who they are. This is unacceptable, this is an example of what we have been talking about. This must not be allowed, this must not happen, this must not go on. All Christians should rise up and resist this,” Oritsejafor said.

The President of ECWA, Rev. Jeremiah Gado premised the action of Katsina state government on the fact that “many Hausa people have long been converted to Christianity because of the ECWA Church.”

Also speaking the President of Hausa/Fulani/ Kanuri Christians, General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (retd) said, “It is pure religious persecution; the compound is owned by us and has been on for over 99 years. They believe that being Christians, we may likely support the government in power and the President (Goodluck Jonathan).

“Although the place has been on for long, we see it as pure religious persecution, going by our relationship with them which has not bee so cordial. It is a big compound built by the Christian missionaries. We have the C of O, but the Katsina State government refused to renew the C of O for another 99 years.

“There is a Boarding and Staff inside the premises, staff quarters and students Hostel. The road they want to construct will pass through the compound and divide it into two but will not lead to anywhere. The decision is a continuation of the marginalization and persecution of Christians in the North.”

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The South African High Commissioner, Lulu Mnguni, who spoke on an African Independent Television (AIT) news programme on Tuesday night, said his country had no intention of keeping the seized funds but would only release it to Nigeria after due process has been followed.

“Well, obviously we also in South Africa don’t want to keep Nigeria’s money, but we want to follow due process to address it. It’s their money and so they would like to have their money back,” he said in response to questions about the controversial transactions that have sparked diplomatic row between the two countries.

The high commissioner did not indicate what that “due process” entails. But Nigeria may need to challenge the ruling of the South African court which gave the South African National Prosecution Authority the authority to freeze and seize the funds.

He also said South Africa has no reason not to sell arms to Nigeria adding that Nigeria has a long history of buying arms from his country.

“We’ve been selling arms to Nigeria for many years, so we don’t have a problem. Why should we not sell arms to Nigeria? If Nigeria needs arms to protect its citizens and its peoples, so we have to assist them.”

The high commissioner commented on the controversial transaction few hours after it was reported that no Nigerian is being detained in South Africa over the deal contrary to widespread reports that two Nigerians and an Israeli national were arrested and detained after they attempted to smuggle into that country $9.3 million apparently meant for buying arms for the Nigerian intelligence service.

Paul Ramaloko, the spokesperson of the country’s police service, said no arrest was made after the arms money was intercepted and confiscated.

“No one was arrested on this day,” Ramaloko, a captain in the South African Police, told this newspaper. “We only seized the money.”

The police spokesperson also refused to reveal the names of the passengers on the plane.

“We can only name people who are criminally charged,” he said. “In this matter, no one has been charged. We are only talking about one person who checked in the luggage.
“The other people were allowed to go soon as they were cleared.”

On September 5, border authorities seized $9.3 million allegedly meant for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian intelligence services from two Nigerians and an Israeli who arrived the country in a private jet owned by the leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ayo Oritsejafor, allegedly meant for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian military.

The money stashed in three suitcases was discovered custom officers after the suitcases were put through airport scanners. The money was concealed in two black plastic suitcases, filled with 90 blocks each containing $100,000 in notes, with combination locks, were seized, as well as two pieces of hand luggage also containing US currency, South African National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, said.

The NPA said it found an invoice for a helicopter and armaments meant for Nigeria with the suspects.

While the furore created by the cash seizure was yet to settle, South African authorities again seized another sum of $5.7 million transferred by Societe D’Equipments Internationale of Nigeria, to South African arms company, Cerberus Risk Solutions, for the procurement of arms.

South African investigators said as at the time the deal was signed, Cerberus Risk Solutions’ license to deal in arms had expired.

Meanwhile, Femi Falana, a senior lawyer in a statement Tuesday said from the details of the arms deals the Federal Government was not implicated in the seizure of the $15 million.

According to Falana, the office of the National Security Adviser carelessly dragged the government into the embarrassing affair by its amateurish handling of the issue.

Falana said instead of accepting responsibility for the botched deals, the Federal government should have indicted its arms contractors and seek to recoup its money from them for patronising unauthorised arms companies in South Africa.

“Contrary to the mismanagement of information traceable to the office of the NSA the Federal Government did not place any direct order for the importation of arms from South Africa,” he said.

“The fact that the NSA signed the End User certificate for the arms importation is not a license for the companies involved in the deal to breach the laws of South Africa.

In other words, the Israeli and two Nigerians who were arrested last month for smuggling the sum of $9.3 million and the Nigerian company involved in the transfer of the $5.7 million to South Africa are not public officers.

As independent contractors they were awarded contracts for the supply of arms by the Federal Government and paid accordingly. It is indubitably clear that the suspects were negligent for failing to conduct due diligence.

“Since the Federal Government cannot be held vicariously liable for the alleged criminal activities of the suspects the office of the NSA ought not to have embarrassed the nation by giving the erroneous impression that Nigeria had breached the law of another country.

“As a sovereign entity the Federal Government can place orders for the purchase of arms either from another government or from independent arms dealers.

“But when the office of the NSA decided to award contracts to private corporate bodies for the supply of arms it could not have clothed them with immunity or license to breach local or foreign laws.

“Instead of exposing Nigeria to further ridicule the Federal Government should stop accepting responsibility for the alleged criminal actions of the suspects indicted in the alleged laundering of the sum of $15 million.”

Falana said by threatening to go after South African investments in the country over the controversial deal, the Federal government threw its moral authority out of the window.

“By asking South Africa to reciprocate the gesture of allowing MTN and DSTV to operate in Nigeria is the Federal Government saying that both South African companies are allowed to breach the law of the land?”

He also chastised the National assembly for its shoddy handling of the issue.

“Regrettably, the National Assembly treated this matter of urgent national importance so cavalierly and in the process left many questions unanswered. Otherwise how could both chambers have failed to examine the statement of the NPA that the official explanations for the suspicious transactions are riddled with contradictions?”

Falana said the Nigerian government should call the NSA to order and apologise to Nigerians for dragging the country into the embarrassing affair.

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