CAN fires back at Presidency, says Christian genocide real

1 week ago 3

•Don’t designate Nigeria state of concern, Kukah tells Global Community
•Says re-designation’ll wounded ongoing bid efforts, dialog among faiths
•Presidency keeps mum

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA—Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has accused the Presidency of twisting facts and misrepresenting its presumption connected the on-going killings of Christians crossed the country.

It besides insisted that what was happening successful respective parts of bluish Nigeria and the Middle Belt amounted to a ‘Christian genocide’.

However, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has urged the planetary assemblage not to re-designate Nigeria arsenic a “Country of Particular Concern”, CPC, implicit alleged spiritual persecution, informing that specified a determination could undermine ongoing efforts to foster bid and interfaith dialogue.

Efforts made to get the absorption of the presidency done the statesmanlike spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, did not output immoderate affirmative results.

At property time, helium neither picked the telephone calls to his GSM enactment nor responded to the connection sent to him for his reaction.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who could besides not beryllium reached
But successful a connection issued by the President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN clarified that it did not, astatine immoderate point, disregard oregon picture the wide killings arsenic a ‘so-called Christian genocide’, arsenic claimed successful a property connection reportedly issued by Barrister Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President connected Media and Policy Communication.

According to the statement, the contention followed Bwala’s sojourn to the CAN Secretariat astatine the National Christian Centre, Abuja, connected Monday, during which helium sought to recognize CAN’s presumption connected remarks made by United States senator, Ted Cruz, who described the persistent killings of Christians successful Nigeria arsenic a ‘Christian genocide’.

“CAN made it wide that its presumption connected this contented has agelong been established and remains unchanged. Across galore parts of bluish Nigeria and the Middle Belt, Christian communities person suffered repeated, organised and brutal attacks which person near thousands dead, villages destroyed and families displaced.

”These are not isolated crimes but a continuing signifier of unit that has persisted for years without justness oregon closure,” the CAN President said.

CAN expressed alarm implicit the Presidency’s consequent statement, titled ”Presidency Debunks Western Christian Genocide Narrative successful Dialogue with CAN Leadership.”

The apex Christian assemblage said the study falsely suggested that Archbishop Okoh had downplayed the killings by describing them arsenic a ‘so-called Christian genocide’.

“That portrayal is wholly mendacious and grossly unfair. The gathering was recorded by CAN’s media team, and astatine nary constituent did Archbishop Okoh usage specified words oregon explicit specified a view. Referring to the calamity arsenic a ‘so-called genocide’ trivialises the symptom of countless Christians who person mislaid loved ones, homes and places of worship successful targeted attacks,” Archbishop Okoh said.

The Christian assemblage added that during the meeting, Bishop Mike Akpami, its Director of Planning, Research and Strategy, presented verified information from www.orfa.africa showing accordant and targeted attacks connected Christians crossed respective regions of Africa, including Nigeria.

“We telephone connected the national authorities and information agencies to enactment with urgency, fairness and transparency to halt these killings and bring each perpetrators to justice.

“We besides impulse media professionals and authorities officials to talk with truth, empathy and responsibility, arsenic careless words tin deepen wounds and undermine peace,” Archbishop Okoh said.

CAN reiterated that its committedness to bid didn’t mean soundlessness successful the look of injustice, adding that information indispensable ever usher engagement among the Church, the State and the public.

Those contiguous astatine the gathering included Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President; Rev. Stephen Panya Baba, Vice President; Apostle Samson Fatokun, General Secretary; Dean Rev. Emmanuel Nicodemus Ozumba, Director of Education, Women and Youth; and Dame Comfort Otera Chigbue (Esq), Director of Legal and Public Affairs, among others.