The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
yesterday demanded the exit of Nigeria from international religious
organisations such as the Organisation of
Islamic Countries (OIC) to maintain
the country’s secularity status.
It said: “Nigeria presently is a member… and signed treaties.
The government should pull out of them in order to keep the sanctity of the
constitution.”
But it said it was not opposed to the floating of Sukuk
Islamic bond by the Federal Government.
The Federal Government had faulted CAN’s allegations that
there were underground plans to Islamise the country with the recent issuance
of its N100 billion Sukuk bond.
But reacting to the development yesterday, CAN President,
Rev. Olasupo Samson Ayokunle, said the body was not against the initiative but
that it was wrong for the government to be the one promoting it.
“As I 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 (yesterday) to keep the sanctity of the constitution,
which will guide the behaviour and actions of everyone. They must be able to
keep everybody together,” Ayokunle said.
Other demands he said the group took to the Presidential
Villa included the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to take a decisive
action against herdsmen’s attacks on farming communities in the country.
Ayokunle, who led the delegation said President Buhari must
also come up with lasting solutions to the menace of armed robbery, militancy
and kidnapping among others on the increase across the country.
Briefing State House Correspondents after their closed-door
meeting, Ayokunle said the demands had become imperative in the interest of
peace and togetherness of all citizens.
He said President Buhari must also pay attention to the
payment of salaries and allowances of workers, as the lack of it is what leads
to the incidence of suicide and increase of crime.
He warned that when people cannot find food to eat, they
resort to whatever they can lay their hands on.
“We have been supportive of this government, when you see
people speaking their mind, you 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 as one,” he said.
On what the president told them while reacting to the incessant
attacks by herdsmen, Ayokunle disclosed that Buhari assured the group that
government was “doing something to stop them.”
According to him, Buhari blamed the attacks on events
following the demise of former Libyan leader, Muamar Ghadafi, where those who
were armed by him moved down south and now living with the herdsmen in Nigeria.
“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 communities.
“He stated that since the government now also knows that this
is a problem, they are doing something to stop them.”
“Beyond the promises,” the CAN leader said, Nigerians “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.”
Buhari also held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of
the Muslim community at the State House, Abuja.
After their separate meetings, the Secretary General,
Jama’atul Nasirul Islam (JNI), Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, told reporters that they
had during the meeting demanded fairness, good governance and speedy
appointments.
He said the group also prayed with the president and thanked
God for his speedy recovery.
A statement by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Femi Adesina, yesterday stated that Buhari, at the end of the
meetings, assured the religious leaders and all Nigerians that his
administration would address rising concerns of corruption, insecurity and
injustices in various parts of the country.
The president, according to the statement, told the CAN
delegation that he had already given instructions for the submission of all the
names of heads of parastatals in order to address the allegations of
lopsidedness in appointments.
“On the question of one-sided appointments, we will look at
it. I have given instructions that a list of all heads of parastatals be
submitted to me and I know they will not delay in doing that,” he said.
Buhari said his administration would ensure the reform of the
police and judiciary, describing both institutions as critical for the security
and stability of the nation.
“There is no way we can be comfortable in our country unless
we are lucky to have a good police force and judiciary.
“We need a good police force and judiciary to really maintain
the legitimacy and the confidence of the populace in governance,” the president
added.
On the fight against corruption, he assured both CAN and the
JNI leaders that his administration would always be guided by the rule of law
and constitutionality in prosecuting all those that had been accused of
corruption.
He explained to the JNI delegation that corruption in the
country had taken a cultural dimension, urging all religious leaders and
Nigerians to join in the fight in order to reverse the trend.
“When something becomes a culture, it is more difficult to
stop, but collectively we will prevail,’’ he assured the leaders.
In his remarks, Rev. Ayokunle commended the president’s
achievements in the fight against corruption, empowerment of the military to
flush out Boko Haram terrorists and the recovery of some of the kidnapped
Chibok girls.
Aliyu, on his part, appealed to the president to pay more
attention to the yearnings of Nigerians, urging him to continually walk in the
fear of God.
Other members of the CAN delegation were the Primate of the
Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, former Chairman of CAN, FCT
chapter, Rev. Israel Akanji and Aso Villa Chaplain, Pastor Seyi Malomo.
It said: “Nigeria presently is a member… and signed treaties.
The government should pull out of them in order to keep the sanctity of the
constitution.”
But it said it was not opposed to the floating of Sukuk
Islamic bond by the Federal Government.
The Federal Government had faulted CAN’s allegations that
there were underground plans to Islamise the country with the recent issuance
of its N100 billion Sukuk bond.
But reacting to the development yesterday, CAN President,
Rev. Olasupo Samson Ayokunle, said the body was not against the initiative but
that it was wrong for the government to be the one promoting it.
“As I 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 (yesterday) to keep the sanctity of the constitution,
which will guide the behaviour and actions of everyone. They must be able to
keep everybody together,” Ayokunle said.
Other demands he said the group took to the Presidential
Villa included the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to take a decisive
action against herdsmen’s attacks on farming communities in the country.
Ayokunle, who led the delegation said President Buhari must
also come up with lasting solutions to the menace of armed robbery, militancy
and kidnapping among others on the increase across the country.
Briefing State House Correspondents after their closed-door
meeting, Ayokunle said the demands had become imperative in the interest of
peace and togetherness of all citizens.
He said President Buhari must also pay attention to the
payment of salaries and allowances of workers, as the lack of it is what leads
to the incidence of suicide and increase of crime.
He warned that when people cannot find food to eat, they
resort to whatever they can lay their hands on.
“We have been supportive of this government, when you see
people speaking their mind, you 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 as one,” he said.
On what the president told them while reacting to the incessant
attacks by herdsmen, Ayokunle disclosed that Buhari assured the group that
government was “doing something to stop them.”
According to him, Buhari blamed the attacks on events
following the demise of former Libyan leader, Muamar Ghadafi, where those who
were armed by him moved down south and now living with the herdsmen in Nigeria.
“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 communities.
“He stated that since the government now also knows that this
is a problem, they are doing something to stop them.”
“Beyond the promises,” the CAN leader said, Nigerians “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.”
Buhari also held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of
the Muslim community at the State House, Abuja.
After their separate meetings, the Secretary General,
Jama’atul Nasirul Islam (JNI), Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, told reporters that they
had during the meeting demanded fairness, good governance and speedy
appointments.
He said the group also prayed with the president and thanked
God for his speedy recovery.
A statement by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Femi Adesina, yesterday stated that Buhari, at the end of the
meetings, assured the religious leaders and all Nigerians that his
administration would address rising concerns of corruption, insecurity and
injustices in various parts of the country.
The president, according to the statement, told the CAN
delegation that he had already given instructions for the submission of all the
names of heads of parastatals in order to address the allegations of
lopsidedness in appointments.
“On the question of one-sided appointments, we will look at
it. I have given instructions that a list of all heads of parastatals be
submitted to me and I know they will not delay in doing that,” he said.
Buhari said his administration would ensure the reform of the
police and judiciary, describing both institutions as critical for the security
and stability of the nation.
“There is no way we can be comfortable in our country unless
we are lucky to have a good police force and judiciary.
“We need a good police force and judiciary to really maintain
the legitimacy and the confidence of the populace in governance,” the president
added.
On the fight against corruption, he assured both CAN and the
JNI leaders that his administration would always be guided by the rule of law
and constitutionality in prosecuting all those that had been accused of
corruption.
He explained to the JNI delegation that corruption in the
country had taken a cultural dimension, urging all religious leaders and
Nigerians to join in the fight in order to reverse the trend.
“When something becomes a culture, it is more difficult to
stop, but collectively we will prevail,’’ he assured the leaders.
In his remarks, Rev. Ayokunle commended the president’s
achievements in the fight against corruption, empowerment of the military to
flush out Boko Haram terrorists and the recovery of some of the kidnapped
Chibok girls.
Aliyu, on his part, appealed to the president to pay more
attention to the yearnings of Nigerians, urging him to continually walk in the
fear of God.
Other members of the CAN delegation were the Primate of the
Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, former Chairman of CAN, FCT
chapter, Rev. Israel Akanji and Aso Villa Chaplain, Pastor Seyi Malomo.
It said: “Nigeria presently is a member… and signed treaties.
The government should pull out of them in order to keep the sanctity of the
constitution.”
But it said it was not opposed to the floating of Sukuk
Islamic bond by the Federal Government.
The Federal Government had faulted CAN’s allegations that
there were underground plans to Islamise the country with the recent issuance
of its N100 billion Sukuk bond.
But reacting to the development yesterday, CAN President,
Rev. Olasupo Samson Ayokunle, said the body was not against the initiative but
that it was wrong for the government to be the one promoting it.
“As I 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 (yesterday) to keep the sanctity of the constitution,
which will guide the behaviour and actions of everyone. They must be able to
keep everybody together,” Ayokunle said.
Other demands he said the group took to the Presidential
Villa included the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to take a decisive
action against herdsmen’s attacks on farming communities in the country.
Ayokunle, who led the delegation said President Buhari must
also come up with lasting solutions to the menace of armed robbery, militancy
and kidnapping among others on the increase across the country.
Briefing State House Correspondents after their closed-door
meeting, Ayokunle said the demands had become imperative in the interest of
peace and togetherness of all citizens.
He said President Buhari must also pay attention to the
payment of salaries and allowances of workers, as the lack of it is what leads
to the incidence of suicide and increase of crime.
He warned that when people cannot find food to eat, they
resort to whatever they can lay their hands on.
“We have been supportive of this government, when you see
people speaking their mind, you 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 as one,” he said.
On what the president told them while reacting to the incessant
attacks by herdsmen, Ayokunle disclosed that Buhari assured the group that
government was “doing something to stop them.”
According to him, Buhari blamed the attacks on events
following the demise of former Libyan leader, Muamar Ghadafi, where those who
were armed by him moved down south and now living with the herdsmen in Nigeria.
“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 communities.
“He stated that since the government now also knows that this
is a problem, they are doing something to stop them.”
“Beyond the promises,” the CAN leader said, Nigerians “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.”
Buhari also held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of
the Muslim community at the State House, Abuja.
After their separate meetings, the Secretary General,
Jama’atul Nasirul Islam (JNI), Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, told reporters that they
had during the meeting demanded fairness, good governance and speedy
appointments.
He said the group also prayed with the president and thanked
God for his speedy recovery.
A statement by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Femi Adesina, yesterday stated that Buhari, at the end of the
meetings, assured the religious leaders and all Nigerians that his
administration would address rising concerns of corruption, insecurity and
injustices in various parts of the country.
The president, according to the statement, told the CAN
delegation that he had already given instructions for the submission of all the
names of heads of parastatals in order to address the allegations of
lopsidedness in appointments.
“On the question of one-sided appointments, we will look at
it. I have given instructions that a list of all heads of parastatals be
submitted to me and I know they will not delay in doing that,” he said.
Buhari said his administration would ensure the reform of the
police and judiciary, describing both institutions as critical for the security
and stability of the nation.
“There is no way we can be comfortable in our country unless
we are lucky to have a good police force and judiciary.
“We need a good police force and judiciary to really maintain
the legitimacy and the confidence of the populace in governance,” the president
added.
On the fight against corruption, he assured both CAN and the
JNI leaders that his administration would always be guided by the rule of law
and constitutionality in prosecuting all those that had been accused of
corruption.
He explained to the JNI delegation that corruption in the
country had taken a cultural dimension, urging all religious leaders and
Nigerians to join in the fight in order to reverse the trend.
“When something becomes a culture, it is more difficult to
stop, but collectively we will prevail,’’ he assured the leaders.
In his remarks, Rev. Ayokunle commended the president’s
achievements in the fight against corruption, empowerment of the military to
flush out Boko Haram terrorists and the recovery of some of the kidnapped
Chibok girls.
Aliyu, on his part, appealed to the president to pay more
attention to the yearnings of Nigerians, urging him to continually walk in the
fear of God.
Other members of the CAN delegation were the Primate of the
Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, former Chairman of CAN, FCT
chapter, Rev. Israel Akanji and Aso Villa Chaplain, Pastor Seyi Malomo.
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