By Jackson Udeani – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Friday expressed disappointment over what it described as President Muhammadu Buhari’s “silence in the ongoing genocide” in southern Kaduna, saying his silence speaks volumes of the perceived official endorsement of the killings.
Secretary-General of CAN, Musa Asake, said the defence offered by the presidency over its silence on the southern Kaduna killings is unacceptable and that the President ought to speak out to Comden the ungodly acts.
Mr. Asake who spoke to journalists in Abuja called on Christians across the country and in diaspora to observe a national day of mourning for victims of the crisis in southern Kaduna State, and other parts of Nigeria.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina had on Thursday in a televised media interview, explained while the President had kept mute over the crisis, saying Mr. Buhari, based on briefing he had received, trusted the ability of Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai to handle the crisis.
Mr. Adesina also added that the President cannot comment on everything that goes on in the country, arguing that Nigeria is a federal set up.
But according to CAN’s scribe, “The recent defence of the president’s silence that the president has received briefing from the governor of Kaduna State over the matter is unacceptable because the presidency knows that the people of the affected area had already protested against the governor’s unacceptable biased handling of the continued killings.
“Common sense tells anyone that at that instance, the president has to more directly wade in because lives are involved. The continuous killings have shown that the governor of Kaduna state lacks the will power to arrest the situation and bring it under effective control,” the association said.
“In view of the present predicament, the president of CAN has directed that Sunday, January 8, be declared a national day of mourning by all Christians, including those in the diaspora. We are to pray fervently for our southern Kaduna brothers and sisters who are victims of these wanton killings and also for the peace of our dear country, Nigeria,” CAN declared.
“While we commend President Muhammadu Buhari for waging war against the Boko Haram fundamentalists since his assumption of office, his silence in the ongoing genocide in the last few weeks speaks volumes over the perceived official endorsement of the dastardly and ungodly acts.
“We know that southern Kaduna has been under 24 hour curfew daily as directed by the governor, yet the enemies of the people are still prowling going from house to house, killing defenceless people, without government protection. The security operatives in the area appear to be turning blind eyes to the killings.”
Mr. Asake also reiterated CAN’s previous allegations that lopsided appointments in the security sector which it alleged, weigh heavily against the Christians has made them victims of most of the attacks, calling for a review of the appointments in order to build trust among Nigerians.
He called for vigilance among Christians in Nigeria and beyond, adding that the ethno-religious cleansing in the north should be viewed with high sense of responsibility.
