Christians blame politicians for Nigerian’s woes

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, CAN President

NORTHERN Christian leaders have blamed politicians for using religion and ethnicity to divide Nigeria, as they continue to endanger democracy and good governance in the country.

The former National Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr. Samuel Salifu and the Secretary General of Northern CAN, Prof. Daniel Babaye, lamented that politicians, who belong to both Christian and Muslim religious divides, have indulged in using religious sentiments as weapon of politics to appeal for votes and perpetrate themselves in office.

They said it was time for Nigerians to rise to the challenge of opposing those politicians who were bent on using both religion and ethnicity to destroy Nigeria’s democracy. Salifu said Christians and Muslims must unite for a better Nigeria, adding that it was the beginning of Nigerians’ re-awakening.

The Christian leaders spoke at a one-day conference in Kaduna yesterday, organised by the Christian Awareness Initiative (CHAIN), with the theme: “Religion and Good Governance”.  Salifu argued that there were so many criminals under the cover of religion, adding: “If Nigeria doesn’t want to experience what is happening in Somalia, we must sit and talk. Candidates standing for elections should not be judged by their religious affiliations.
  “Anyone that has promised something without fulfilling it should not be allowed to govern because many children have graduated six to seven years without jobs”.
  Besides, Babaye, who condemned public office holders that perpetuate themselves in power based on ethnic and religious sentiments, advised Nigerians to elect leaders based on competence and not on religious basis, stressing that “there can’t be Christian or Muslim government in Nigeria”.
  He further explained that “any government which fails to provide social amenities to the people it swore to serve, should be regarded as an unserious government no matter the religion of the leader.”
  “There is nothing like Christian government and there will never be. It’s a fallacy for someone to say we need a Christian government. It has never happened and it will not happen because leadership comes from God and anyone that did not do well, God will bring him down,” Babaye said.
  Babaye said: “Everyone must participate in bringing good leaders that will work for the betterment of Nigeria. Voting based on religious basis has only succeeded in breeding institutions that are irresponsive. Tafawa Balewa and Ahmadu Bello were exemplary leaders who served with patriotic zeal”.