•••URGES CHRISTIAN LEADERS TO BOYCOT NIREC
The Christian Association of Nigeria for the 19 States of the North and Abuja has called on Christian parents in Nigeria to stop sending their children to schools in Sokoto State.
CAN also advised against sending children to schools in other states of the North that are known to be whostile to Christians and Christianity.
The Public Relations Officer CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja), Chaplain Jechonia Gilbert, made the call in a statement on the gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel by Islamic fanatics at the Shehu Shagari College of Education on Thursday.
The statement was titled “Deborah Samuel: No cover up, assailants must face judgment.”
CAN, in the 19 Northern States and Abuja also called on Christian leaders to terminate participation in Nigerian Inter-Religious Council until Islamic leaders show commitment to teach equality of religions to their followers.
He said, “CAN, 19 Northern States, is calling on every christian parents across the nation especially, Northern states to discourage sending their children to any school in Sokoto State, pending when the Federal and State governments are ready and willing to secure the lives of our children both in Sokoto and other States that are hostile to Christians and Christianity.
“We are urging all christian leaders to terminate their participation in Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), until their counterparts of Islamic faith show commitment to tame their followers on equal terms.” He said
The religious body called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal to ensure that those behind the barbaric murder and brought to justice.
CAN said that gristly act of murder must not be allowed to go unpunished in this country that is governed by law and order.
“The CAN (19 Northern States and Abuja) is calling on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sokoto State government under governor Aminu Tambuwal not to resort to the government usual rhetoric but must demonstrate political will and capacity to bring the perpetrators of this criminality to justice; otherwise, others may take queue from this and turn our father land to a country of lawlessness at every slightest provocation.
“CAN believes that Nigeria is a country governed by the rule of law and order. Therefore, any act of lawlessness and criminality must not be swept under the carpet.” He added.
Gilbert added that while CAN was against casting aspersions on any religion or religious leaders, it condemns strongly, any attempt to hide under the garb of religious extremism to attack Christians in the North.
He said that God Almighty is not weak to be defended by men stressing that He is the one that has the power to defend and watch over the affairs of men.
He warned that irreversible death awaits those who believe that the oppression and murder of Christians is a service to their God.
“We appeal and counsel those who feel and think that killing and oppressing christians is a demonstration of their service to their God to learn from history.
“Those that tried it in Egypt and their experiences should be enough warning. There is a Red Sea awaiting them, even those who are secretly encouraging them, must partake in the Red Sea experience.”
The body prays for the immediate family and indeed the church of late Deborah Samuel to have faith in the ability of their God to avenge her death.
