24th December, 2019
PRESS RELEASE:
CAN, US, GANGING UP IN INIQUITY
The United States (US) has
accused the Nigerian government of restraining religious freedom. On its own part,
the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has also supported this allegation.
CAN claimed that Christians were becoming endangered species in their
fatherland. The umbrella Christian organization also claimed lopsidedness in appointments
under the Buhari administration.
However, a press statement
issued by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has debunked the above allegations.
The human rights organization faulted US democratic status and described its
role in global matters as the height of double standard. The group also accused
CAN of shedding crocodile tears. MURIC’s statement was signed by its director,
Professor Ishaq Akintola.
According to MURIC, “We see the mention
of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) by the US as a smokescreen. IMN is not
being denied freedom of worship. It is the excesses of the group that is being
curtailed. Nobody stops them from worshipping but the government has a duty to
protect the rest of Nigerians from actions of the group which undermine
Allah-given fundamental rights of other citizens.
“We
are not bothered by the US latest ranking of Nigeria as religiously biased. Has
the US ever seen anything good about our country? Some foreign powers are
always eager to discredit developing nations. It is a game mastered by imperialists.
We can see the signs. Instead of breaking up in 2015 as predicted, Nigeria is
waxing strong. The war against corruption is on course. Infrastructure is
growing at a fast rate. Therefore, a spanner must be thrown at the works to
justify forceful intervention and a grip on Nigerian oil.
“America should do some
introspection. Those who claim to be the champion of democracy in the world
cannot, in good conscience, beat their chests and say, ‘We have been fair to
all’. America complains to Nigeria that Christians are being killed even when
it is well known that Muslims are the greatest victims of the killings. America
invited former CAN president to address Congress a few years ago. But no Muslim
leader has ever been invited to the same platform. Yet America has been using
the lies told before Congress to judge our country. Is this fair?
“Muslims of Southern Nigeria
have been complaining of persecution for decades but America turned its deaf
ears. America pretends nothing is happening to Nigerian Muslims even when the
Muslim girl child is locked out of school over an ordinary head scarf which is
even allowed in US schools.
“US human rights record
outside Nigeria is even nothing to write home about particularly regarding its
attitude to issues affecting Muslim nations and Muslims in general. Sanctions
are used selectively against Muslim nations in order to weaken them militarily
and economically. Israel is free to kill and maim Palestinian children while
America uses vetoes to frustrate resolutions of the United Nations aganinst
Israel. In fact, democracy is a sham if assessed against the backdrop of
happenings in the UN where America alone can stop any decision made by the rest
of the world. The US invaded Iraq without approval from the UN. So what moral
right has America to judge other nations?
“If America is truly the world’s champion of democracy and the chief
promoter of human rights, why is that country always silent each time Muslims
are at the receiving end? More than 8,000 Muslims were massacred in the Bosnia
genocide, particularly in Srebrenica and Zepa in 1995. What did America say? What
did America do when Muslims were being killed in their hundreds in Myammar? Even
right now hundreds of thousands of Uyghur Muslims are being detained in Western
Xinjiang, China, but America cannot be bothered. Since last week, Muslim
demonstrators are being killed over anti-Muslim Indian citizenry laws but the
White House is only interested in bullying Nigeria.
“Our message to CAN is this, allow America to set fire to your country
and we can assure you that it is not the Muslims alone who will face turmoil.
Our people say that when a hen perches on a rope, neither the hen nor the rope
will enjoy stability. Whether to avoid foreign interference in your country and
live in peace with your Muslim neighbours while you watch your children and
grandchildren play peacefully in the garden or to open the doors wide for an
army of occupation which will bring general pandemonium, the choice is yours.
“CAN should remember that
religion or no religion, America’s national interest is America’s priority. America
has no permanent friends. Neither should anyone blame Americans for loving
their own country. The blame goes to those who open the doors of their country
for foreign forces to support them in eliminating or, at least, in undermining
their perceived rivals or oppressors.
“CAN has only manifested its
naivety in modern international politics. The US has thrown religious
persecution as a bait. Unfortunately CAN has swallowed it, hook, line and
sinker. It is not the first time that America will fly a kite. What was America’s
excuse for invading Iraq? Was it not weapons of mass destruction (WMD)? Was any
WMD found at the end of the day? Did America apologise? Iraq’s infrastructure
paid for it. It was completely demolished. But above all, Iraq’s oil paid for
it and that was the real target ab initio.
“The same America is now
talking of religious bias in order to create tension. If nothing like religious
bias is found after Nigerians have killed themselves in their thousands,
America will never apologise and we will be the suckers for it. CAN is free to
bring in America. Afterall, if the heavens will fall, we are all under it. But
history will remember our warning to CAN.
“CAN is simply playing to type. This is a group that does the hurting,
yet it is always the first to scream. CAN aptly personifies the parable of the
mischievous housewife who beats up the husband but screams for help. The only
time neighbours bothered to check, they found the husband trembling in a corner,
with the wife beating him with a huge stick.
“How can CAN start
complaining now? All the Chiefs of Army Staff under Obasanjo were Christians
from 1999 to 2007 (Victor Malu, Alexander Ogumudia, Martin Luther Agwai, Andrew
Azazi and Paul Dike). Four out of the five chiefs of defence staff were also
Christians while all the chiefs of naval staff were Christians and the Muslims
did not complain. CAN did not talk at the time. How come CAN suddenly found its
voice?
“Under President Goodluck
Jonathan, Christians took all the sensitive security positions. The Chief of
Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff
were all Christians until January 2014 when a Muslim took over as Chief of
Naval Staff. Not only that, the Director Generals of the State Security
Services and the Nigerian Intelligence Agency were Christians. The Secretary to
the Federal Government was a Christian. The Senate president and his deputy
were both Christians under Jonathan but CAN had the temerity to demand that a
Christian must head Senate under Buhari.
“CAN accuses President Muhammadu Buhari of appointing Muslims only
whereas President Buhari shares the four sensitive military leadership
positions among Christians and Muslims. We must expose CAN for deceiving the
global community and for inciting its followers in the country. Check the
records. These are verifiable facts. The Chief of Defence Staff is General
Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin and he has been appointed since 13th
July, 2015. He is still in that position. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe is the
Chief of Naval Staff. He was appointed by the same Buhari since 13th
July, 2015. Only the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Air Staff are Muslims.
That is 50 – 50. CAN is definitely lying. But the wind has blown. We have seen
the ruff of the hen.
“You will know the truth and
the truth will set you free (John 8:32).We appeal to discerning Christians not
to allow CAN to set them against their own brothers. CAN is fully back as an unrepentant
advocatus diaboli after a short interregnum. Only the truth can set you
free.
“We charge compatriots to
verify claims being made by either the US or CAN. We invite all Nigerians to
manifest the well known African hospitality to every American or Western
citizen as those individuals do not represent their countries’ tortuous
diplomacy. We call on Muslims to continue to exhibit love and care for their
Christian compatriots. We warn against CAN’s connivance with Western powers. It
can only be a gang-up in iniquity.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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