For condemning the protest called by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over herdsmen killings, the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) in Ondo State, has received a tongue lashing from the Patriotic Christian Youth of Nigeria (PCYN).
NSCIA Ondo had in a press conference criticised the Christian body for allegedly trying to instigate Christians against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The council alleged that the aim of CAN was to bring down the government through mass protests, adding that Christians did not massively support the president in 2015.
But in a Tuesday statement in Jos, Plateau State, PCYN President, Evangelist Timothy Nasso wondered what CAN had done wrong by demanding for peaceful protests to highlight the plight of defenceless people being killed daily across the country.
Nasso accused NSCIA Ondo of supporting Buhari without caring if he has fulfilled his numerous 2015 campaign promises.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a press release issued by the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Ondo State on some national dailies and social media with the above stated subject matter.
“We condemned in the strongest term the public protest against what it described as killings of Christians in the country organized by Christian Association of Nigeria Ondo State Branch as orchestrated by its national leadership.
“They went further to say that the protest was uncalled for, bias and callous. That the protest was segregative in nature, it contradicts divine teachings of obedience to constituted authorities as well as constructive counselling to the people in power.
“The statement also questioned the fact that Christian are the most affected by the killings in the country and stated that Christians never supported the election bid of the present government.
“It is so sad and unfortunate that we have no records where NSCIA Ondo spoke truth to power against the ongoing killings, failed promises made by the government to end hunger, improve economic, protect human lives and property, to fight corruption and to respect the Nigeria Constitution as against what is witness.
“High level of human rights violations, disrespect for Nigerian constitution, Islamic and regional based appointments, employments and developments, yet the NSCIA Ondo has not gotten the courage to speak to power as counselled but rather had enough time and resources to criticise the church leaders who have sacrifice their time, resources, intellect and lives for the peace and development of Nigeria.
“As an organisation, we stand strongly with the Christian Association of Nigeria for the declaration of the protest against the killings and bloodlettings in the nation. We commend the effort of the Ondo State CAN Chairman for mobilising the church well in his state.
“We encourage the church to go beyond road side protest to ensuring that individual Christians and innocent Nigerians go all out to defend themselves in the face of the ongoing unprovoked attacks. ”