SGF didn’t say police will arrest pastors, bishops preaching against govt ― NIREC

THE Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has refuted a publication circulating on social media which claims that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said that the Nigerian Police would commence arrest of pastors and bishops who use their pulpit to preach against the government.

NIREC in a statement by its Executive Secretary, Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua, said the publication claims among other things that the SGF has indirectly declared war against the Nigerian pastors.

“This misguiding error that is currently trending on social media claimed that: ‘the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha on the Friday 27th August 2021 has declared that from September, 2021 the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Police Force will start arresting bishops and pastors who are using their Church pulpit to preach against the Federal Government.

“NIREC under the co-chairmanship of His Eminences, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs hereby states that in the just concluded 3rd quarter meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council held from 25th -27th August, 2021 at Reiz Continental Hotel Abuja, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Gida Mustapha, while declaring the meeting open, said that: ‘leaders that are fond of making statements that do not in any way bring succor and comfort to our people but rather further deepening discord ought to be cautioned’.

“During his address the Secretary to the Government of the Federation did not mention anything about bishops or pastors,” the statement noted.

NIREC said the Federal Government through the office of the SGF supports NIREC to achieve its mission and vision.

NIREC, however, called on Nigerians to disregard the propaganda and work graciously towards the realization of a peaceful nation.

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