Venerable (Dr) Ayuba Kanta is the Vicar of the St. Luke’s Anglican Cathedral Church, Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State. In this interview with AYODELE AJOGE, The cleric who is also the state’s Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman bares his mind on the various challenges facing the Christian community in the state. Excerpt.
IT is like the present administration in the state has taken a departure from the strained relationship that existed over the years between the state and the Christian community, can you confirm this sir?
What I would say is that the relationship between the state and the Christian community remains frosty, it remains the same. The Christian community to a large extent constitutes the larger part of communities that make up the state. From the electioneering campaign, the Christian community participated fully in the electioneering processes and up to the election period. Christian community like any other Nigerians have the right to choose who they want to vote for regardless of party affiliations.
Therefore, in both parties, Christians have been involved in the politics of the state including voting for the government of the day into power. Immediately after the winners were declared, especially Comrade (Dr.) Nasir Idris being pronounced as the winner, I would say the Christian community led by the CAN chairman has made a lot of efforts to visit him and congratulate him, it will surprise you that between then and now we have written up to five letters requesting for the audience to congratulate him even after the litigation and Supreme Court affirmation of his victory.
During the inauguration, I was one of the inauguration committee members who prayed across the state for the administration’s success. Here is a man who has a passion for people and he always puts God first in what he is doing. His first impression that he needed the people of God to pray for the success of the government gave me the impression that this man would go a long way. The relationship had not been bad because we as Christians are under God’s instruction to pray for our leaders and those in authority. Christians can not do less rather than support the government of the day.
However, what was unfolding was our inability to meet with the governor to express our profound gratitude to God because from what we heard, he is not a religious bigot, we were convinced that he would be a departure from what we have experienced as Christians in the hands of the previous government. Surprisingly, our inability to meet him is creating a lot of suspicion about him and it appears that some people around the corridor of government are making it difficult for CAN to assess the governor for whatever reasons best known to them. But I want to say that this is not to the knowledge of the governor. These people are creating a bad image and, a bad impression about the governor. I have heard him saying ‘Now it is time for work, time for politics is over. For me, this is a very remarkable statement.
But I have to say here loud and clear that there are people in his government who don’t want him to embrace everybody, therefore, there are those who are sabotaging his efforts. But as for us in the Christian community, despite we have not been able to see him, we appreciate him for his transformation agenda for the state. Our concern is those politicians who are making things difficult because of their personal and selfish interests. Five letters have been written to him, but up till now no response from him, we just want to greet him, we are not going to ask him for anything, but I still see no reason why they are making it difficult for us to see him. But I want to say, it is best known to them. But it is not in the best interest of the state.
How would you rate Governor Nasir Idris’s administration so far?
From what we have seen so far, he has done so well in giving Birnin-Kebbi the state capital a new face infrastructurally. We can see the reconstruction of metropolitan roads, the erection of street lights, the redesigning of the roundabout, the abandoned ultramodern state secretariat, which he rewarded its completion, payments of gratuity and payments of pension to retirees, payment of school fees to Kebbi State students in the Nigeria Law Schools, we can also see his dynamic efforts at constructing roads in Local Government areas of the state. The reconstruction of the Central Motor Park is another welcome development. Birnin-Kebbi has always been referred to by many people as a glorified Local Government. Therefore, what we see the governor doing deserves commendation. My only concern is those Politicians who are always after themselves.
If he continues the way he is doing he will surely bring the state to a glorious height. Again, he should look critically into his cabinet to reshuffle it. He will do better if he can do this. The man is a comrade and he has brought his comradeship to bear from what we have seen and he is good to go.
Recently, the Ministry for Religious Matters said it has expanded the Sharia Board to accommodate Christian complaints, how far is this true?
I want to appreciate the Honourable Commissioner for Religious Matters. I remember that he invited CAN to a meeting to brainstorm some issues that could bring peaceful coexistence to both Christians and Muslims across the state when he was appointed. I also remembered that I offered a lot of suggestions in this regard, which he accepted and said we should advise ourselves on how we can make Kebbi State a better place for all of us. On the issue of expansion, you talk about, I am not aware of it. I am just hearing it for the first time; nobody has called me about it. As expected this is the Ministry for Religious Matters, we are supposed to be contacted, we are supposed to be informed, and have representatives.
If there is such a claim, I am not aware. I am in touch with the commissioner and he has not informed me about it. Many Christians have been coming to complain about how can the state have a Ministry for Religious Matters and the Christians are not represented. At our first meeting, we agreed that since there is a Hisbah Department we should also have a department for the Boys Brigade so that they will be able to address some issues of peculiar nature. Our meeting with the commissioner was very wonderful, I like the man he is a mature person and he knows what he is doing. For me, this issue of expansion, I am not aware of that, I have not been told.
What is the stand of the government on having a state secretariat for CAN?
On the issue of the CAN secretariat, I can tell you authoritatively that Kebbi State is one of the states in the North-West that do not have a secretariat for CAN. By the grace of God, since I was elected as CAN chairman we bought a piece of land, it was not given to us, we fenced it, and we requested funds to commence the building. This was during the tenure of former governor Atiku Bagudu only N5 million was given to us from what we requested, plus the funds at hand we were able to commence the project and it is up to roofing level now. Since then we have been requesting more funds, but we have not gotten any assistance. CAN secretariat has not been receiving attention as it is done to our Muslim brothers and Sisters who have their secretariat. But as for us Christians, we have not received any further financial support and this formed part of the reasons why we want to see the governor and seek his support so that we can complete the secretariat.
We are hoping that the governor will do something different on the issue of the Pilgrim Committee for the Christians, we appealed to the previous government to upgrade the committee to a Christian Board so that we can have a Director or Executive Secretary in charge of Christians Affairs, but I can tell you that more than seven years now the board has been existing by name. I can also tell you that some of the funds committed and remitted to the national have not been remitted. There is so much apathy on the issue of Christian welfare when it comes to Christian issues, it is a serious challenge for us. We want the governor to look into these issues as a comrade that he is and has declared that he is for everybody. He should look into our predicament so that everybody can be carried along.
Were there any palliatives or socioeconomic support for Christians during the festive period?
Social welfare or palliative support has been a tradition in Kebbi State during festive periods whether at Easter or Christmas, the Christian community is being supported. The last government has always been trying its best, it support the Christian community with foodstuffs, clothes, and valuables during Christmas. The effort is to make life easier for the Christian community. I want to say with surprise that during the last Christmas, such palliative support could not come our way. The Christian community did not receive such palliative.
The only palliative received was that of the Federal Government. As for the state under this government, we have not received anything of such yet, but there is a strong indication that the Christian community would get their Easter packages, just that the SSG is not around to authorised the release of such palliatives, certainly, we shall get something from the government covers for the Christian community.
What other burning issues have been a big challenge for the Christian community in the state?
Our big challenge here is that Christians don’t have a cemetery to bury their dead. Sometimes, if a Christian dies we have to take the corpse to Jega, a distance of about 30km for burial. There are accusations and counter-accusations from Christians especially the indigenes over this issue. But glory be to God when this administration came on board, they gave us a listening ear and the file is now in the office of the SSG waiting for the ascent of the governor for the allocation of land. We have been given a place but the governor has not signed the file and this is where we are today.
The issue is very serious and it almost created a security threat for the Christian community. This was why the Christian community wanted to embark on state-wide protest, but as leaders, we have been calming them down and pleading with them. People are thinking I have compromised, but it is not so. The Bible commanded us to follow peace with all men and love one another. We thank God that this administration is giving us a listening ear. One of us who is an APC member almost shed tears because we don’t have a place where we can bury our dead.
Kebbi State is a land of equity and Christians don’t have the right to bury their dead ones, is that justice? To me, this is very unfair and I know if the governor hears this he will be shocked. I am sure the governor being a Comrade and a listening governor will look into our files and assented to it. So, that we Christians would soon have a place to bury our own dead.
The other burning issue is that of no teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge in our public schools. Nigeria is a religious country, the north in particular. In a state that is land of equity, if you ask me what is the reason for that I may not be able to answer it. The authority is in the best position to answer the question. The constitution of Nigeria is clear on that, that Nigerians should practice their religion. This is absurd, this is an abnormality that needs to be corrected. If Islamic religion is taught in secondary schools across the state, why not Christian Religious Knowledge?
What other issue do you think the government must address?
Another issue is the place to worship, if you look at church areas it is filled up with worship centers. Bitnin-Kebbi is growing, this is a sign that there is a peaceful coexistence among the people, Christians, and Muslims. People love to come to Kebbi State to live, but I would like to say that some individuals have a strong hatred for Christians in this state and would not want Christians to be comfortable and do their business and bring about development to the state, which is very bad. This is a state that is called the land of equity, where is the equity. If Christians in Kebbi should be allowed to practice their religion, they should be allowed to enjoy their religious right. We are calling on the governor to see that what is done to the Muslims is also done to the Christians so that we can all flow together.
We say we are religious, religion without holiness, and fear of God is empty. If you are religious it is right for you to be just and fair. God has brought us together as Christians and Muslims. If God had wanted us to be of one religion can’t He do it? He can do it. If God gave us freedom of choice why are people trying to prevent other people or make life difficult for our fellow human beings? We should consider our common humanity. I am speaking to our leaders, both traditional leaders, religious leaders, and political leaders. Leadership is from God, after all, how long are we going to live on earth? We should be remembered for doing the right thing. America is what they are today because it welcomes everybody in as much as you can contribute to the development of America. If there is anybody that can bring developments to Kebbi State that person should be welcome onboard.
Those people are busy advancing religion while other nations of the world are busy advancing science and technology. Religion is a personal thing between you and your creator. Let us try to seek that thing that will engender peace, unity, and development for Kebbi State.
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