The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria has condemned in strong terms the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and accused it of causing disaffection and disunity in Nigeria.
The Group stated this today while reacting to a statement credited to the Vice-President of CAN Rev. Joseph Hayab yesterday stating that the christian religious leaders that were present at the unveiling of Senator Shettima Kashim Ibrahim as Vice-Presidential Candidate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday were hired to attend the Event in Abuja.
According to the reports, Hayab claimed that christian religious leaders that attended the Event yesterday were not known to CAN.
The Group queried why they need to be known to CAN or Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria or any church for that matter asking whether Nigerians would vote on the basis of church or Mosque we attend?
MMWG asked: Why were they silent over Christian-Christian tickets in Southern States of the Country for the past 42 years ( i.e. 1979 to date) but now crying over Muslim-Muslim ticket now! It stated that with 18 Political Parties in the Country, CAN and its cohorts have condescend so low to campaign against a political party when 17 others are available for them those that believed in their campaign of divisiveness.
In a Press Statement released today signed by the National Coordinator of the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Group described as unpatriotic and condemnable for CAN to believe that true christians would support its divisive roles in the Nation’s polity. The Group stated that responsible Nigerians would not tow the line CAN; adding that since Nigeria’s Independence both muslims and christians have never voted based on religious lines rather, they have been voting based on their conscience stating further that what informed muslims voting for Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan would guide truth christians to vote for Muslim-Muslim ticket this time around.
The Group wondered why a Religious Body like CAN could believe that all the adherents of christian faith in Nigeria would vote for a christian as President; when religion has never being the yardstick used to consider who to vote for but competence, capacity and capability have always determine who to vote into offices.
MMWG described CAN as an unregistered Political Party masquerading as a Religious Body; and that its attempt to set Nigerians against themselves using politics would bounce back negatively on it, as its campaign of calumny against a Political Party and its candidates is devilish, unprogressive, unpatriotic and irrational and by the grace of God would fail.
The Group called on true Muslims and Christians in Nigeria to ignore the divisive campaign of CAN and vote for the candidates of their choice in the forthcoming General Elections; as CAN’s religious bigotry and fanaticism is irreligious and condemnable; it stated.
The Muslim Media Watch stated further…”Today, Nigerian Muslims are proud to have contributed to the successes of thousands of christian leaders of today having been assisted to greatness by various Muslim Personalities
notable among which are the Vice-President Professor ( Pastor) Yemi Osinbajo who benefitted greatly from Prince Abdul-Jabbar Bola Ajibola – Former President of the World Court in the Hague and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Also, Late Buruji Kashamu and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who were nurtured among thousands of others by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Aleogo Raymond Dokpesi – the Proprietor of AIT Tevesion and Raypower FM Radio Station who also benefitted from Alh. Bamanga Tukur as well as Mr. Olusola Akanmode – the Chief of Staff to Atiku Abubakar who was Vice-President in 1999 to 2007′ to mention just a few.
All the great Benefactors mentioned here were muslims who empowered known committed and dedicated Christians without minding the fact that they are committed christians! The negative reactions of some Church Leaders and fanatical christians would not make Muslims in Nigeria to change their good attitude to christians.
At this point the Group said, we must commend the nationalistic and patriotic views expressed on Muslim-Muslim ticket by Prof. Pat Utomi, Mr. Sam Omotseye, Mr. Babajide Kolade Otitoju and Pastor Tunde Bakare who have behaved as intellectuals who could not be swayed to backing christian fanaticism and fundamentalism at the expense of good leadership we are envisaging for Nigeria.
The irreligious Islamophobia of CAN, Pentecostal Fellowship and Rev. Joseph Hayab as well as others in their clique would eventually back-fire on them as true christians would sooner than later recognise their enemies.
MMWG warned that it is unchristian to spread message of hate and blackmail against Muslims as it would surely work against them because Nigerians are more sensible than to yield to the campaign of calumny and disaffection of CAN; adding that they have been brain behind the polarisation of muslims and christians in Nigeria today as they say good things at Inter- Religious Council and Inter- Faith dialogue meetings but preach hatred and divisiveness on the Pulpit.
MMWG concluded by stating that the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and other Islamic Organizations in Nigeria would continue to be epitome of values and virtues for Nigeria and will NEVER condescend so low as to turn themselves into partisan political party organ, as we are more patriotic, dedicated and committed the Nigerian Project of returning the Nation to its past glorious days instead of backing political candidates for morbid, selfish and personal gains as CAN is doing!.
‘Muslims in Nigeria would not because of bad attitude of CAN stop their good relationship and kindness to our Christian brethren because it js our religious duty to do what we are doing’ MMWG concluded.
Ibrahim Abdullahi, FCIPM
National Coordinator,
Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria
22nd Dhul-Hijja, 1443 AH
21st July, 2022 CE
