Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Okehi chapter, Evangelist Job Apana, has called on the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Pharm. Abdulkareem Jamiu Asuku to tender a public apology for making disparaging remarks against Christianity. Reacting to statements made by Asuku on Radio Kogi, 93.5 FM on Monday, Apana described the Chief of Staff’s comparism of Christianity with the ongoing squabbles between the Muslim ummah in Ebiraland as a misnomer. “His outburst in the radio was like he had been looking for an opportunity to insult and berate us, so he now exploited this unwholesome situation. “He also erred in his claims on different sects in Islam as if the practice is peculiar to Anebira Muslims. Islamic sects have always existed. In the history of West Africa during my Teachers’ College days we were taught in the Mali, Songhai and Kanemi-Bornu empires that there were two broad Islamic sects namely: Tijjania and Quadraniya. Even the Usman Dan Fodio jihad of 1804 was fought on this premise. “Today in Nigeria we have the Ahmadiyya, NASFAT, El-Zakyzaky group among others. Did all of these emanate from Ebiraland? No! “Whenever there is a problem, what leaders should do is to mediate to ensure peaceful resolution and co-existence of the people and not taking side and dabbling into issues that is not even connected. We deserve your unreserved public apology,” he said. In his reaction, another cleric from Kogi Central axis, Venerable Moses Suberu called on Asuku to apologize to the Christian community publicly and write to the church leaders asking for forgiveness.
Suberu noted that the Christian community in Ebiraland have supported the government of Governor Yahaya Bello despite being sidelined. “Your honour, I think a right thinking man will agree that your radio outblast against the Christian body is so mean, hateful and absurd. And without mincing words, you need to apologize to the Christian body publicly. “The unrest between the Muslim Ulmah is not what you can relate with the Christian body. Your comments show the degree of hatred you have for the Christians in the land and it’s so evident in the appointment made by the government from Kogi Central.
May I call your attention to the fact that all the appointment made since the inception of GYB government have obviously eluded the Christian faith from the central and there have never been any protest or rancor to that. The Christian community have taken it lightly and have followed the progress of GYB.
How come you have the mind and effrontery to blast the Christian community on radio with such utterances, probably not been guided. I think you didn’t do your home work well before speaking to the public. The Christian community have never and will never be a cause to war, rift or riot in the land. The only way is for you to redeem your image in the heart of the Christian in the land is to apologize to the Christian community publicly and write to the church leader asking for forgiveness order wise tomorrow is waiting for you maybe politically or otherwise.
God bless you if humility is found in you,” he stated.
Commenting on the Radio program, a public affairs analyst, Mark Ogo’Ogu queried the Chief of Staff’s submissions on Christianity. He warned against inciting comments that are capable of causing rift in the land. “I am very positive to declare openly that our Governor, His Excellency Yahaya Adoza Bello, who has the superior authority over the affairs of Kogi state, will never be so power-drunk to address Anebira disparagingly and also picked out Christianity as object of ridicule. No, he is more decent and civil to do that.
The Chief of Staff came on air to the address Ebira nation on the prevailing issue disrupting the peace and unity of the society. He claimed His Excellency sent him to address the people through the radio station. He started well but lost it when emotion set in, religious intolerance which he has harbored for a very long time began to surface. He lost focus and purpose and began to insult Christianity. He began to liken the Muslim guys who caused the crisis in the mosque to Christians, how dare you? “He divided Christianity by his poor knowledge of the religion quoting scripture he has poor knowledge of its interpretation. Who told you Bible is a novel or another human literature? Imagine that a Christian made such comments against another religion, the society would have been set on fire.
A man who is saddled with a sensitive position such as Chief of staff to the Governor, who claim to be a peace maker, ended up setting the society on fire with his arrogant and reckless speech.“Ebira land is constituted by not only Muslims but Christians and traditionalists as well. Tolerance must be preached,” he said.
Kogi Report