A 6,000 capacity foundation of Divine Mercy Cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, has been laid to mark 100 years anniversary of the church by the Catholic Arch Bishop of Jos, Most Revd Dr Ignatius A. Kaigama.
We are all here gathered today in one accord to address some significantly remarkable issues about our nation, Nigeria. You will all agree that this is an epoch event as it is one of its kind and it is in order to prevent instability in the Country, occasioned by the tension generated by certain events of recent times which is putting to a test our collective resolve as a democratic and secular State. To the Christian community, all we observed is an Islamization process and we stand to be corrected looking at the issues listed below. Such issues that we intend to address and protest are as follows in stickers forms:
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has rejected the National Grazing Reserve Bill meant to provide grazing routes for herdsmen and has suggested that Sambisa forest be used as a national ranch. Vanguard reports that CAN in a memorandum sent to the House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Production and Services / Senate on Incessant clashes of farmers and Fulani herdsmen said the bill is an attempt to Islamize Nigeria and should therefore be rejected.
In response to the growing conviction in the nation that the Nigerian Church should hold a Solemn Assembly nationwide, to repent on behalf of Nigeria and seek God’s divine intervention on account of the multiple crisis afflicting the Church and the nation, His Eminence, the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has approved that a national Solemn Assembly should take place from Friday 27th May – Sunday 29th May, 2016.
The NERDC team was led by the Executive Secretary, Professor Ismail Junaidu in the company of five Directors of the Council including the Director of Book Publishing and Curriculum Development.
This paper is presented by Professor Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, a woman. As the only woman, making a presentation, looking at the grazing bill through the eyes and perception of the woman will be one of the wisest things the National Assembly will have to do.
Since the inauguration of the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) we have learnt a lot about the history of Nigeria, and from our research we are of the firm belief that an Islamic Jihad has been taking place since 1975 when General Yakubu Gowon was overthrown. It is the desire of the NCEF that this Jihad should stop. And, for this to happen all barriers erected by the British and the Islamists, should be pulled down and bridges built in their places.
Christians have no choice but to transform CAN into an established Organization for the promotion and protection of Christianity in Nigeria in the face of the threat of Islamism otherwise known as – Political Islam, which has no single creed or political manifesto but certain common beliefs such as that (1) Nigerian Society should be reconstructed in line with the Religious principles and ideals of Islam.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
A few weeks ago, the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) issued a statement titled THE NEED TO PRESERVE THE PEACE AND UNITY OF NIGERIA. Of concern to the Christian Elders is the deteriorating state of national security, the free fall state of the economy, the inflammation of religious tension through the misappropriation of state powers, a worrisome foreign policy that is evidently skewed in favor of Islamization, as well as the increasing impunity of the Fulani herdsmen, amongst many other issues.
The National Secretariat of CAN has issued a rebuttal of an interview which PUNCH Newspaper falsely claimed it had with the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, his Eminence, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.