CAN counsels Muslims over insecurity

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4 years ago

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned some Muslim leaders in Nigeria against promotion of violence and trouble unless they want to throw the country into avoidable religious crisis.

CAN said it is worried and disappointed with the activities of some Islamic extremists in the country whose past time is how to trigger religious crises and violence and throw the already nervous country as a result of serious security concerns into utter confusion.

This is contained in a statement signed by CAN’s General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Daramola.

He said all over the country, there are some actions that are being taken by some Islamic leaders who are out to provoke their Christian counterparts to anger which CAN has been working behind the scene to nip such ungodly actions in the bud.

“For example, in Kwara State that CAN is still trying to curb the violence occasioned by the Governor’s directive to mission’s schools to allow the wearing of the hijab, some extremists have built Ummul Khair Central Mosque and Islamic Centre beside Catholic Bishop’s House and the Secretariat primarily to tempt peace-loving Christians into a religious crisis.

“Will Islamic schools allow Catholics or Christian women who are their students dress to the school premises in their cassock? To compound the problem, one Imam Abubakar Ali-Agan and the General Manager, Kwara State Physical Planning Authority, are claiming that there was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Catholic Bishop of Ilorin and the owners of the Ummul Khair Central Mosque before they built the two buildings, whereas, it was absolute falsehood and misinformation. But if they are certain about their claim, they should publish the said Memorandum of Understanding.

“It is high time we advised some Muslim leaders in the country to stop fishing in troubled waters with a view to provoking Christians whom they share the same neighbourhood with. This should stop,” the statement said.

CAN said it is an open secret that no religion has a monopoly of violence, hence, Christian leaders continue, always, to caution faithful against provocative actions against other religions or citizens wherever they live as Jesus Christ taught us.

“We therefore call on the security agencies to caution and prevent any group of people whose actions can lead to religious and social crises and violence in the country. We also call on all well-meaning Islamic leaders to talk to their members with provocative and evil-intended actions.

“We have had enough bloodletting in the country. Violence lovers should be firmly reprimanded and disciplined.

“We equally appeal to the Kwara State Government to order the relocation of the controversial mosque and the Islamic Centre immediately in order to prevent the crisis being deliberately provoked by some Islamic leaders and followers in the country,” the statement added.