Nigerian politicians must be commended, it’s the selfish clerics and clergies that should be warned to regulate politically induced hate sermons than religious unity on the podiums and pulpits – Literary critic
– CAN should consider the Biafra separatist lunacy, subjecting southeast to the republic of subjugation, savagery and barbarity first before delving into 2023 election in 2021 – Electorate
– The present leadership has northern Muslim as president and southern Christian; a pastor, as vice president, yet it does not prevent religious hate speech and vile attack against the president’s major tribe – Politician
– Why only presidential ticket? CAN should have warned against fielding gubernatorial candidates professing same faith – Social Commentator
The Periscope Reporter
Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, the country’s umbrella Christian body has cautioned political parties and politicians to be sensitive to professed faith, beliefs practised in the country against fielding Christian/Christian or Muslim/Muslim presidential candidates in 2023.
CAN President, Samson Ayokunle made the remark on Thursday when when Christian leadership met with Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege at the National Assembly.
Ayokunle told politicians not to heat up the polity with utterances as campaigns commence.
Ayokunle advised politicians to always remember there is already tension across Nigeria owing to insecurity.
“We urge that a balance of both religious practitioners be considered. We don’t want Christian/Christian ticket nor Muslim/Muslim ticket”, he said.
Ayokunle expressed disappointment with the economic downturn and its consequences on the people.
The CAN President called for quick actions and policies that could cushion the effect.
“Unemployment is at an unimaginable level. While we appreciate the efforts of the legislature in calling the attention of the executive, more robust and daring efforts are required.
“Enabling environment should be created for investments and incentives or tax exceptions given to local manufacturers on some goods”, Ayokunle added.
Speaking to the Periscope in Lagos, Yinka Dare a social commentator, having commended the system of politics playing in Lagos state, devoid of religious and/or tribal sentiment; to be taken as a model, observed that religious consideration in time of politics is more in the north.
Dare feared that the religious hate in politics is however gradually infecting and affecting the western part of the country.
“Sentiment apart, the Muslims minority remain alienated and politically ostracised in the southeast, more particularly, CAN ought to give this difference a fair consideration as a formidable pressure group, as much as to discourage states against fielding gubernatorial candidates professing same faith,” Dare said.
On his part, Yunusa Abubakar, the literary critic from Nassarawa state said core politicians with the nationalist face, must be commended rather than condemned, excused rather than accused for strengthening peace and unity in diversity that define Nigeria as an entity, adding that those heating up the polity, polarising the atmosphere, aren’t real politicians but contractors for destructive disintegration and that selfish clerics and clergies should be warned to regulate politically induced hate sermons than the religious call for peace, unity, trust and mutual coexistence on the podiums and pulpits.
Abubakar recalled during the 2019 electioneering atmosphere in the country, how podiums and pulpits were used against peace and unity, based on religious sentiment rather than capacity and capability of presidential candidate. It was the same politicians that cushioned the effect of the podiums and pulpits served religious hate preaching when both the ruling and the major opposition political parties fielded northern Muslim presidential candidates, as much as it had happened decades ago when the major political parties, in return to civilian rule, fielded southern Yoruba Christian presidential candidates; Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae.
Corroborating, Mustapha Arabi, Adamawa based politician and advocate of moral sensibility and societal reorientation interviewed in Abuja, pointed out that the present leadership has northern Muslim as president and southern Christian; a pastor as vice president, “yet it does not prevent religious hate speech and politically motivated vile attack on the president’s major tribe by some sections of the public.
Contributing to the discussion, Chidimma Okeke from Anambra State chided the religious organisation for joining the political comments where she said that CAN should consider the Biafra separatist lunacy, subjecting southeast to the republic of subjugation, savagery and barbarity first before delving into the matters relating to 2023 election in 2021.