CAN meets Buhari, calls for Nigeria’s withdrawal from religious organisations

 

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Friday met with President Muhammadu Buhari, calling on him to withdraw Nigeria from all religious organisations that the federal government has treaties with.

The Christian body also said that even though there was nothing wrong with Sukuk, the Islamic bond that the federal government has subscribed to, it was however against the Nigerian constitution.

President of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, who led the delegation to the presidential villa, Abuja, said the association also advised Government to ensure the timely payment of workers’ salary while more policemen should be recruited to better police the country.

The association also demanded for an action to end the perennial farmers/Fulani cattle herdsmen clash around the country.

Emerging from the meeting, Rev. Ayokunle told State House correspondents: “We made certain requests. One, the organizations that are religious where Nigerian presently is a member and signed treaties, the government should pull out of them in order to keep the sanctity of the constitution.

“Two, immediate attention to the payment of salaries and allowances of workers. This may heighten the tension of the country as lack of payment of salaries had led to suicide and this has also led to increase in crimes as well. When people can’t find food to eat, they resort to whatever they can lay their hands on

“Three, we also advised that more police be recruited. We have the problems of kidnapping, armed robbery, herdsmen attacks, militancy is also on the increase. About 300,000 Policemen cannot police a nation of about 200 million people, even if they are given the best of equipment.

“There are lots of young people who are ready to work. Government should therefore vote more funds for security.

“Four, we also advised the government to address the issues of Fulani herdsmen squarely. The President responded in the affirmative that it was the result of the end of Ghadafi in Libya whereby those who were armed by him have now moved down South, infiltrating into our country and are living with the herdsmen in Nigeria ravaging the entire communities. He stated that since the government now also know that this is a problem, they are doing something to stop them.”

On the Sukuk bond, CAN maintained that it was not against the idea but that it was wrong constitutionally.

The association president added: “Yes, we talk about keeping very close to the constitution. As l said before, there wasn’t any demon in Sukuk bond. But what was wrong is the constitutionality.

“No CAN member is opposed to any Muslim running their own financial system, but it is wrong for the government to be the one who will be promoting it and initiating it. It was a violation of the constitution.

“We have talked to the government today to keep the sanctity of the constitution which will guide the behavior and actions of everyone. They must be able to keep everybody together.”

He observed that even though CAN’s first meeting with President Buhari was coming late, it was better late than never, saying that the association was humbled by the president’s disposition which he said would encourage offers to help the administration.

On what CAN now expected of Buhari, Ayokunle stated: “Action, action, action. Beyond the promises, we want to see physical changes that will make all of us to be happy especially in the area of lopsided appointments, where some states have 30 people and another state having less than three, this will not give any sense of belonging to the government and to the country.”

He argued that CAN has been supportive of the administration by speaking out when things did not appear to be right.

“We have been very supportive of this government. When you see people speaking out their minds, you should know that those people don’t want things to scatter. The people that don’t talk are the enemies of the nation. When you see things going wrong, you quickly speak out so that they can be corrected, so that the nation can move together are one,” he declared.

President Buhari also met with the leadership of the Jama’atul Nasirul Islam (JNI).

Also speaking to correspondents, the Secretary General of the group, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said they demanded for fairness, good governance and speedy appointments.