November 14, 2018

Bishop Oriname O. Kure

Chairman

Christian Association of Nigeria CAN

Benin City

My Lord,

CONTENDING IDEOLOGIES OF DEMOCRACY AND SHARIA

Further to our telephone conversation, Kure/Asemota of Tuesday, November 13, 2018, the issues in contention in Nigeria today is the competing ideologies of Democracy and Sharia.

Nigeria’s relative short colonial expansion was driven by numerous pre-occupations such as anti-slavery, rivalry with French and German territorial ambition, private and official British colonial interests. The central idea of colonialism and independence was based on the concept of a united democratic Nigeria conducted according to the rule of law.

Unfortunately and unknown to the generality of Christians including Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Islamic Brotherhood of Egypt had infiltrated Nigeria. The Brotherhood is an Islamic organization established in Egypt in 1928 with the creed “God is our objective, and the Quran is our law (Constitution)”. The British appreciated the incompatibility of Democracy and Sharia to the effect that they would not allow Gumi to study in Egypt and had to send him to Khartoum, Sudan. We all know the fate of Sudan today. We must work hard so that the same fate does not happen to our dear country Nigeria. The Muslim Brotherhood is opposed to the dissolution of the Othman’s empire in 1923 and the establishing of a secular state thereby abolishing the caliphate in favor of secular rule.

The British’s man on the spot Lord Lugard who was not much of a Christian notwithstanding the fact that he was the son of an English Pastor, born in India. Lugard was a committed feudal imperialist that had disdain for educated colonial subjects both in India and Nigeria. He was resentful of the pride of the educated Southern Yoruba and other Krios in Lagos, which made him developed a complex (some say hatred) for educated Africans especially those who had attended British universities which he, Lugard, though brilliant in his own right, could not attend. This led to his theory of Indirect Rule copied from India which he tried to foist on the whole of Nigeria. Even after his retirement in 1919, he still had influence over British colonial officers who were first trained in Sudan before coming to Nigeria. The short colonial period in Nigeria is 46 years compared to India 280 years and Virginia USA 169 years is mainly responsible for the unsettled ideology of Democracy and Sharia. It is time this issue be settled for all time.

The above in my view explains why a minority tribe in Nigeria (Fulani) adopting the principle of “collaboration” has become the majority that decides who should rule Nigeria. First they were assisted by the Hausa then the Kanuri and now Christian collaborators that ensure that the minority is made and remains a permanent majority.

The NCEF has decided that the contending ideologies of Democracy and Sharia must be discussed and all Nigerians accept and practice one or the other but not both as a result of their incompatibility. This is the genesis of the difference between the NCEF and its parent body CAN - some of whom unfortunately are collaborators with the Islamists.

I enclose herewith two annexures (a) interpretation of some of the passages of the Quran etc on some of the tenets of Islam; (b) my letter to Prof Kingsley Moghalu and other Ndigbo Presidential candidates inviting them to my Parish Harvest which explains my thinking which I intend to place before the NCEF on the 15 and 19th November 2018 in Lagos and Abuja; (c) Press Release: CAN Has No Supervisory Board; and (d) Rejoinder: CAN Has No Supervisory Board. Anybody who disagrees with this researched and conclusions should set details of his disagreement in writing for the consideration of Christians in Nigeria, so that we all can come to an agreement in the face of the onslaught by Islamism, in the form of conventional jihad, Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen and stealth jihad under the 1999 Constitution.

God bless Nigeria.

Yours in Christ

Solomon Asemota, SAN

Chairman NCEF

Cc:

Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze

President

Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)

Bishop Felix Omobude

President

Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN)

Solomon Asemota, SAN (Chairman), Prof. Joseph Otubu, Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro (rtd), Archbishop Magnus Atilade, Dr. (Mrs) Kate Okpareke, Dr. Ayo Abifarin, Gen. Zamani Lekwot (rtd), Elder Moses Ihonde, Elder Nat Okoro, Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, Elder Matthew Owojaiye, Justice Kalajine Anigbogu (rtd), Elder Shyngle Wigwe, DIG P. L. Dabup, Sir John W. Bagu, Dr. Saleh Hussaini, Elder Mike Orobator, Justice James Ogebe, JSC (rtd), Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Debo Omotosho, Dame Priscilla Kuye, Dr. S. D. Gani, Mrs. Osaretin Demuren, Prof. Yussuf Turaki, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel (Secretary)

The Threat is Shariah

Shariah’s adherents are making a determined, sustained, and well-financed effort to impose it on all Muslims and non-Muslims, alike.

Too many Muslims, to borrow a metaphor from Mao, provide the sea in which the jihadis swim. By offering little meaningful opposition to the jihadist agenda and by meekly submitting to it, a large number of Muslim communities and nations generally project a tacit agreement with jihadis’ ends, if not with their means. At the very least, they exhibit an unwillingness to face the consequences of standing up to shariah’s enforcers within Islam.

There are, moreover, Muslims around the world – including some in Europe and the Nigeria – who do support shariah by various means. These include: (1) by contributing to “charity” (zakat), even though, according to shariah, those engaged in jihad are among the authorized recipient categories for what amounts to a mandatory tax;10 (2) by inculcating their children with shariah at mosques or madrassas; and (3) by participating in, or simply failing to report, abhorrent behavior condoned or commanded by shariah (e.g., underage and forced marriage,11 honor killing,12 female genital mutilation, polygamy, and domestic abuse, including marital rape).

Misperceiving the Threat

The first thing to understand about the jihadis who operate by stealth is that they have precisely the same dual objectives as the openly violent jihadists (including al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Taliban): global imposition of shariah and re-establishment of the Islamic caliphate to rule in accordance with it. They differ only with respect to timing and tactics.

Nigeria national security leaders, academia, the media and society as a whole have been rendered all but incapable of recognizing this dimension as part of the enemy jihad. A number of factors have contributed to that lack of situational awareness. For one, it follows decades during which pride in American heritage, traditions and values steadily has eroded and pro-sharia sheikhs have poured millions into Nigeria and Middle East studies programs.

At the same time, a massive information operation has targeted Western society. Its immediate goal is to obscure the fact that jihadist violence and more stealthy supremacism is rooted in the Islamic texts, teachings, and interpretations that constitute shariah. The net result of these combined forces is that the United States has been infiltrated and deeply influenced by an enemy within that is openly determined to replace the Nigerian Constitution with shariah.

Democracy & Islam

Any system of man-made law is considered illicit under Islamic law, for whose adherents Allah already has provided the only law permitted, shariah. Islam and democracy can never co-exist in harmony. “And if any fail to judge by the light of what Allah has revealed, they are no better than unbelievers.” (Q 5:47) “Sovereignty in Islam is the prerogative of Almighty Allah alone. He is the absolute arbiter of values and it is His will that determines good and evil, right and wrong.” (Mohammed Hashim Kamali, Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, 3d rev. ed., (Cambridge, UK: The Islamic Text Society, 2003), 8.)

“The shariah cannot be amended to conform to changing human values and standards.

Rather, it is the absolute norm to which all human values and conduct must

conform.” (Muslim Brotherhood ‘spiritual leader’ Yousef al-Qaradawi)

Gender Inequality

Shariah explicitly relegates women to a status inferior to men.

Testimony of a woman before a judge is worth half that of a man: “And get two witnesses, not of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose for witnesses.” (Q 2:282)
Women are to receive just one half the inheritance of a male: “Allah thus directs you as regards your children’s inheritance: to the male, a portion equal to that of two females….” (Q 4:11)
Muslim men are given permission by Allah in the Quran to beat their wives: “As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill conduct, admonish them first, next refuse to share their beds, and last, beat them.” (Q 4:34)
Muslim men are given permission by Allah to commit marital rape, as they please: “Your wives are as a tilth unto you, so approach your tilth when or how ye will….” (Q 2: 223)
Muslim men are permitted to marry up to four wives and to keep concubines in any number: “…Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with them, then only one, or a captive that your right hands possess…” (Q 4:3)
Muslim women may marry only one Muslim man and are forbidden from marrying a non-Muslim: “And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikun [non-Muslims] till they believe in Allah alone and verily a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik, even though he pleases you....” (Q 2:221)
Under shariah, to bring a claim of rape, a Muslim woman must present four male Muslim witnesses in good standing. Islam thus places the burden of avoiding illicit sexual encounters entirely on the woman. In effect, under shariah, women who bring a claim of rape without being able to produce the requisite four male Muslim witnesses are admitting to having had illicit sex. If she or the man is married, this amounts to an admission of adultery. The following Quranic passages, while explicitly applying to men are cited by shariah authorities and judges in adjudicating rape cases: "And those who accuse free women then do not bring four witnesses (to adultery), flog them..." (Q 24:4) “Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? When they have not brought the witnesses, such men, in the sight of Allah, stand forth themselves as liars!” (Q 24:13)
A Muslim woman who divorces and remarries loses custody of children from a
prior marriage: “A woman has no right to custody of her child from a previous marriage when she remarries because married life will occupy her with fulfilling the rights of her husband and prevent her from tending the child.” (‘Umdat al-Salik, m13.4)

Islamic Supremacism

Belief that Islam is superior to every other culture, faith, government, and society and that it is ordained by Allah to conquer and dominate them: “And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.” (Q 3:85):

“Ye are the best of Peoples, evolved for mankind.” (Q 3:110)
Non-Muslims are “the most vile of created beings” (Q 98:6)
Be “merciful to one another, but ruthless to the unbelievers” (Q 48:29)
“It is the nature of Islam to dominate, not to be dominated, to impose its law on all nations and to extend its power to the entire planet.” (Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood)
“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.” (Omar Ahmad, Council on American Islamic Relations co-founder/Board Chairman, 1998)

Jihad

Jihad is warfare to spread Islam:

“Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war…” (Q 9:5)
“Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, not hold that forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.” (Q 9:29)
“So fight them until there is no more fitna and all submit to the religion of Allah alone.” (Q 8:39)
“I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah, and perform the prayer, and pay the zakat. If they say it, they have saved their blood and possessions from me, except for the rights of Islam over them. And their final reckoning is with Allah” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim – agreed upon – as cited in ‘Umdat al-Salik o9.1 Jihad)
“Jihad means to wage war against non-Muslims and is etymologically derived from the word mujahada, signifying warfare to establish the religion.” (‘Umdat al-Salik, o9.0, Jihad)
“Islam makes it incumbent on all adult males, provided they are not disabled or incapacitated, to prepare themselves for the conquest of [other] countries so that the writ of Islam is obeyed in every country in the world....But those who study Islamic Holy War will understand why Islam wants to conquer the whole world….Those who know nothing of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those [who say this] are witless. Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all!
“Does this mean that Muslims should sit back until they are devoured by [the unbelievers]? Islam says: Kill them [the non-Muslims], put them to the sword and scatter [their armies]. Does this mean sitting back until [non-Muslims] overcome us? Islam says: Kill in the service of Allah those who may want to kill you! Does this mean that we should surrender [to the enemy]? Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made obedient except with the sword! The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for the Holy Warriors! There are hundreds of other [Qur'anic] psalms and Hadiths [sayings of the Prophet] urging
Muslims to value war and to fight. Does all this mean that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim.” (Ayatollah Khomeini as quoted by Amir Taheri.)

Lying/Taqiyya

It is permissible for a Muslim to lie, especially to non-Muslims, to safeguard himself personally or to protect Islam.

“Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, unless you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself, and to Allah is the final return.” (Q 3:28)
“‘Unless you indeed fear a danger from them’ meaning, except those believers who in some areas or times fear for their safety from the disbelievers. In this case, such believers are allowed to show friendship to the disbelievers outwardly, but never inwardly.…‘We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them.’” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol 2, 141)
“Mohammed said, ‘War is deceit.’” (Bukhari vol.4:267 and 269)
“He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar.” (Bukhari vol.3:857 p.533)

October 30, 2018

Prof. Kingsley Moghalu

Young Progressive Party (YPP)

Block 10, Flat No. 1,

Benue Crescent,

Area 1, Garki Abuja.

Dear Sir,

LETTER OF INVITATION

RE-INVENTING CHRISTIAN MAJORITY

I have the pleasure of inviting you as a Presidential Candidate from the South Eastern Region to the Church Harvest and Bazaar of my Parish St. Joseph’s Catholic Church taking place at the Church premises along First East Circular Road, Benin City on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 9am. The Bazaar will commence at 1pm. I am the President of the Governing Council of the Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) incorporated in 2001 and Chairman of the National Christian Elders’ Forum (NCEF) a sub-Committee of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

For over 20 years, I have headed the study groups of the two bodies in which we have come to the following conclusions:

That Democracy and Sharia are incompatible;
That both President Buhari and former Vice President Atiku as Muslims are not in any position to stem the tide of the jihad of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen now ravaging parts of the North-East and North Central Nigeria because it is one the tenets of Islam in which all Muslim must participate. This explains why some 57 Chibok girls were seen in Cameroon as reported by Daily Trust of Sunday, October 28, 2018. Chibok girls in Cameroon are the spoils of conventional jihad in the 21st Century;
The reason for having over 90 presidential candidates is a strategy of stealth jihad that prohibits independent candidacy and compels candidates outside the Islamists to register a political party before being able to contest election into Local Government Council. Rather than contesting for Local Government Council, they go for Presidential, an expensive process. This stealth jihad is aimed at reducing Christian majority to a minority which has become the vogue;
The history and culture of Nigeria have perpetuated the culture of minority rule, starting with traditional rulers, then the British, thereafter the Fulani who have collaborators first with the Hausas and Kanuris then Yorubas, Ndigbo and other minorities among over 350 ethnic nationalities. Fulani are now in the “majority” in an independent Nigeria;
Willink defined Hausa-Fulani as an ideology thus: “many witnesses have referred to their fears of Fulani-Hausa domination, and though the meaning of this phrase was not always expressed in terms, or even consciously analyzed by those who used it, it clearly implies a system of rule and of society of which an important ingredient is the operation of Muslim Law. Some witnesses have specifically referred to this system of law as an object of fear.” [Emphasis supplied]
Today, 2018, Christians do not have a political party of their own because it is clear that two defunct major political parties - Action Group (AG) and National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons (NCNC) that largely represented the two large ethnic nationalities of Yoruba and Ndigbo two of the big three, the other being Hausa/Fulani, have collapsed into the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), established by the Fulani in the First Republic. The reasoning of the NCEF is that the one unified party presented at different times since 1999 as National Party of Nigeria (NPN) later the “military” and now PDP and APC can be regarded as NPC (1), (2) and (3), designed to provide a minority rulership, comprising one tribe and one religion; and
Today, Nigeria, more than ever before, requires a liberal president. It will be recalled that Christians generally and Southerners in particular, began and sustained the struggle for independence. It must be pointed out that liberalism is a political philosophy demanding the diffusion of power—whether economic, social or political. That is why liberals want free, competitive, fair markets, free, fair and credible elections, socially liberal culture and laws allowing for human diversity; and pluralism in politics. These ideals are opposed by Sharia in Nigeria which demands that liberals have to be eternally vigilant against the rigging of elections in favor of vested interests of one tribe and one religion. The hostility against liberalism by Islamists explains why Buhari is opposed to restructuring of Nigeria.

For the above reasons, I have personally come to the conclusion that a liberal South Easterner woman or man should be our next president to put an end to the culture of minority rule of one ethnic group and one religion.

In the above circumstance, your coming to St. Joseph’s Harvest and Bazaar will provide me with an opportunity to meet with you in addition to your donations and thereafter request our two organizations of NCEF and CSMN to meet with you more formally and the issue of consensus candidate can be discussed to defeat the strategy of reducing Christians in Nigeria to a minority status. Nigeria needs liberal politics that is partisan in the best sense—for the best ideas; that is passionate without descending to populism; that is unafraid to take heat and make enemies. It is time for liberals to battle again for what they believe in. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that only a liberal as President of Nigeria can reverse the ills of the past and take Nigeria to the promised-land.

A South Easterner is preferred by me, this time, for the elected office of president more than ever before for many reasons amongst which are:

South Eastern Nigeria has produced more Christian martyrs than any other ethnic nationality or region and, in fact, all other regions put together in Nigeria. The undersigned with six decades of involvement in Law enforcement and interpretation in Nigeria, is a living witness;
South Eastern Nigeria’s republicanism will be very helpful in the promotion of Democracy in a Nation in competition with Sharia; and
At this point in time in Nigeria’s history with the competition between Democracy and Sharia, Liberalism versus Conservatism, Christians versus Muslims, a South Eastern candidate is more likely to promote Liberal Democracy (not Sharia Democracy) more than any other religion in Nigeria.

These are some of the reasons why it is imperative that all Nigerians especially Christians, non-Christians and moderate Muslims must call on South Eastern Nigeria to provide a leadership for a Liberal New Nigeria of Peace, Prosperity and live a Life more abundant.

Please be assured of my highest consideration.

Yours in Christ

Solomon Asemota, SAN

Chairman, Harvest and Bazaar Committee, 2018

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Benin City

2019 PRESIDENCY: THOSE WHO WANT BUHARI’S JOB

Speaking in a telephone interview with Sunday Sun yesterday, Sagay said that only the candidates of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stood a chance of winning the election, described other parties in the race as jokers.

His words: “You know somehow Nigeria does not keep with the norms, which other nation adopt or practise. Politics is referred to as the art of the possible. That is the name of politics. Now, why do you throw your heart in a ring when you know for certain 100 per cent that you are going to lose? There is something perverse in it. Take away APC and PDP, all the others are just jokers. They are absolute jokers and they know. And what I’m saying is what is the motivation. Is it to add some extra letters, former presidential candidate (FPC) to the name as a new title? Or is it money that INEC gives? What is it? These unknown people, totally unknown.

“Some feel that because they are young that is the qualification for being elected. But we know that the grievously corrupt Nigerians are young Nigerians; their level of corruption is terrible. They are the ones who think that they can be millionaires overnight. So, I don’t see any advantage in being young and looking for political position. So, my conclusion is that these people are living in a delusive world and they will wake up on February 18, 2019 and will know that. They are just clowns, comedians and we will all have a good laugh. Apart from PDP and APC the others are jokers and they know it.”

Dr Oby Ezekwesili

Political Party: Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN)

Office Address: Suite D402, Global Plaza, Plot 366 Obafemi Awolowo Way, Jabi Upstairs, Jabi-Abuja

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone Number: 08038313424

Donald Duke

Political Party: Social Democratic Party (SDP)

Office Address: Plot 2105 Herbert Macaulay Way, Opp Sky Memorial Plaza, Block B3, Wuse Zone6, Abuja.

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone Number: 08036203435 08089367398

Prof. Kingsley Moghalu

Political Party: Young Progressive Party (YPP)

Office Address: Block 10, Flat NO. 1 Benue Crescent, Area 1, Garki Abuja.

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone Number: 08100005566 07050505010

Eguzolugo Sunday Chikendu Chukwu

Political Party: Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP)

Office Address: NO. 2 Calabar Street, Opp. Naval Headquarters, Area 7, Garki, Abuja.

Phone Number: 09071837163 08023729503

Nwachukwu Chucks Nwabukwu

Political Party: All Grassroots Alliance (AGA)

Office Address: Suites 23A-25A Kaitta Mafayas Office Complex, Zone 4, Gwagwalada, FCT. Abuja

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone Number: 08037870421, 08063844816

Asukwo Mendie Archibong

Political party: Nigeria for Democracy Party (NDP)

Franks Ukonga

Political Party: Democratic Alternative (DA)

Office Address: Suite 2/031 Area 1 Shopping Complex, Area 1 Garki Abuja.

Phone Number: 08023423470

Ikeagwuonu Obinna Uchechukwu

Political Party: Action Peoples Party (APP)

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone Number: 08034913080

Eke Sam Chukwuma

Political Party: Green Party of Nigeria (GPN)

Office Address: NO. 5 Church Avenue Road School Bus Stop Orozo-Karshi Road, FCT Abuja.

Phone Number: 08065933765, 08027142078

Nwokeafor Ikechukwu Ndubuisi

Political Party: Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD)

Office Address: Suite C7, Patsy Plaza, After RCC Building, Along Jabi Road, Jabi-Abuja

Phone Number: 07035821690

Donwubuya John A

Political Party: Freedom and Justice Party (FJP)

Office Address: Glass House 3 & 4 Anon Plaza Gudu District, FCT, Abuja.

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone Number: 09054546328, 08037003214

Ojinka Geff Chizee

Political Party: Coalition for Change (C4C)

Office Address: Block 3, No. 49 Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone Number: 08033273950, 08077855110

PRESS RELEASE: CAN Has No Supervisory Board

Our attention has just been drawn to some misleading publications in the SUNDAY VANGUARD of 11th November, 2018 and The GUARDIAN of 12th November, 2018 where two para-Church organisations, (NCEF) and one Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC) made some frivolous, misleading and unfounded allegations against the leadership of CAN, especially the President of CAN.

We are taken aback that such reputable and credible Newspapers could allow themselves to be used by some disgruntled elements parading themselves as the police of CAN to be using them to destroy the Body of Christ for selfish reasons without crosschecking their facts from us as demanded by the ethics of Journalism.

Both organisations are aliens to the Constitution of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). These people are false-alarmists who are pursuing selfish interests appealing to public sentiment in order to mislead them against a credible leader and organization. We are well aware that angels of Satan do camouflage as angels of light. CAN is not operating under their supervision and their selfish and false submissions on the report of the panel set up by National Executive Committee of CAN on Prof Joseph Otubu’s false allegations does not require their opinion to be valid. The group of charlatans operating under the aegis of Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians are usurpers and impersonators that should be regarded as such.

It is true that the Vice President, Prof Otubu, petitioned the National Executive Committee of CAN over some grave allegations he levelled against his Principal, the CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, but the same NEC had set up a Special Committee to look into the petition as demanded by the petitioner.

The Committee invited all individuals involved to appear before the Committee with their evidences to substantiate their allegations and defences with available documentary evidences. The only person connected to this historic assignment who did not appear before the Committee throughout the Committee sessions, is Prof Otubu, the Petitioner. Unfortunately, he refused to contact the Committee despite all the invitations in form of telephone calls, email and written letters sent by courier to him and signed for as received by his Personal Assistant.

The Panel had investigated all the allegations of Otubu and they were found to be frivolous, baseless, false, misleading and unfounded. NEC has adopted the Report with a view of implementing its recommendations. The petitioner, Prof Otubu who claimed he was not around during the panel’s sittings of over two months in his rebuttal of the panel’s finding (because he was indicted) suddenly was around immediately after the panel’s report was out. What a shameful act!

We want to appeal to the media to stop being used by some para-church organisations who are alien to CAN’s Constitution that are out for mischiefs as we approach the 2019 general election. The National Executive Committee of CAN at its last meeting on October 12 passed vote of confidence in its President, Rev Dr Ayokunle and appealed to him to stomach the insults of Professor Otubu and his group working for him to blackmail.

It is imperative to state it clearly that CAN has no supervisory body and the likes of NCEF that are going about destroying and discrediting the body of Christ in Nigeria, for selfish reasons, because of Prof Otubu who is its member, should be ignored. Several Christian groups had looked into Professor Otubu’s petitions including his own church bloc but all their efforts Professor Otubu in the end had faulted. This is his trademark and the NCEF.

CAN is not answerable to them and never can they unilaterally assume the position of supervisors for CAN. CAN is the umbrella body to all Christian Churches in Nigeria and the highest decision making bodies of the organization are NEC and the National Assembly. Charlatans that are going about discrediting the body for selfish reasons will be put in the place where they rightly belong once the NEC meets very soon.

The prayer of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church is for the Church to be one but some disgruntled elements within the folds have been working against her unity in the interest of the kingdom of darkness, terrorizing the church but we are sure that the gate of hell shall not prevail. I admonish them to remember the message of Paul the Apostle to the Body of Christ who said;

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Cor.1:10).

Thank You

Signed

Bishop Stephen T.V. Adegbite

The Director of National Issues and Mobilization,

Christian Association of Nigeria

Rejoinder: CAN Has No Supervisory Board

Our attention has been drawn to a Press Release signed on behalf of CAN by Bishop Steve Adegbite on Wednesday 14th November, 2018 condemning the intervention of NCEF in the contentions and crisis amongst the CAN Executive.

Arising from the aforementioned Press Release, NCEF wishes to clarify as follows:

It is not possible for NCEF that was inaugurated on 15th January, 2015 to be in the current Constitution of CAN which was signed into effect in 2004. The statement that because NCEF is not in the Constitution of CAN and therefore not qualified to make comments on CAN issues is trite and irrelevant. If that logic should stand, then CAN itself has no right to make comments on National Issues and engage the Federal Government because CAN is not mentioned in the Nigerian Constitution.
It would be pure mischief and disrespectful impudence to claim NCEF is unknown to CAN. The Forum was inaugurated by the immediate past President of CAN and it held various meetings with all Executives of the five Blocs of CAN, the Executive and National Directors of CAN, the Zonal Chairmen, and all the States Chairmen during its Unity and Reconciliation Meetings in 2015. NCEF also produced the first Strategy Document of the Nigerian Church. All these Reports were presented to NEC and adopted by the National Executive Committee of CAN. Therefore, for anyone to claim NCEF is not known to CAN is unfortunate.
When the crisis of the current Executive of CAN started, NCEF convened Mediating Meetings with all the Executive and National Directors to resolve the conflict. The Christian Elders also set up two Committees of eminent Christian leaders to investigate and help resolve the crisis. The first Committee was headed by a retired Military General while the second Committee was headed by a Supreme Court Justice (Rtd.) The mediation did not achieve desired result because CAN leadership ignored the Reports of these two independent Committees. This is the reason the crisis lingered in the Church. CAN Officials opt for self arranged Committees which attempted to sweep the scandals under the carpet thereby exacerbating the crisis.
The Nigerian Church is very unfortunate in its current group of CAN Officials. The intransigence and unwillingness to accept correction is un-Christian. Even if crime was committed or mistakes were made, the Christian response is to repent and seek forgiveness. This would have resolved the crisis a long time ago. The unwillingness to resolve issues based on truth and righteousness by the indicted CAN Officials place serious question mark on conversion and discipleship.
It is equally unfortunate that Nigerian Christians are vociferous in condemning corruption of politicians as well as the mis-governance of the current Federal Government. Scripturally, Christians are pointing at the speck in the eyes of the politicians while ignoring the log in their eyes. If this level of cover-up is going on in the Apex body of Christianity in Nigeria, no Christian has the moral right to complain about corruption in Nigeria.
NCEF does not agree that it is trying to “supervise” CAN; far from it. The National Christian Elders Forum are stakeholders in CAN and has the right to demand accountability from its representatives. The “immunity clause” that the current CAN officials wish to accord themselves is non-existent.
The current officials of CAN should remember that they are elected/appointed to serve tenure. Other people have held the office they currently hold and there would still be other officials after them. Therefore, the current officials should be careful not to jeopardize Christianity in Nigeria due to moral shortcomings.
After due investigation and various consultations, NCEF affirms to Nigerian Christians that Prof. Joseph Otubu is neither mischievous nor deceitful. There are definite acts of fraud, violation of CAN Constitution, lies, criminal Audit Report, and so on, that are consistently being swept under the carpet. If the Church is unable to confront sin within its camp, how would it confront sin in the nation?
NCEF is made up of 27 Christian Elders from all the geo-political Zones in Nigeria. Average age in the Forum is 70 years. It is inconceivable that these accomplished Elders would seek to malign or slander a younger man occupying the office of the President of CAN. If Nigerian Church does not confront sin and evil within its household, the consequences could be disastrous to Christianity in the entire country. “A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump.”
NCEF would want to remind Rev. Ayokunle and his officials in CAN of the song of warning that God caused to be sung for them during the meeting of NEC on Friday 12th October, 2018, after Apostle Alex Bamgbola submitted his contentious Committee Report:
- “You cannot hide it from God
- You may cover your (deeds) sin that no one else may know
- But you cannot hide it from God.”
NCEF once again calls on all Christian leaders in Nigeria to note that what is going on in CAN is not an entertainment. If it is not confronted firmly with truth and justice, its consequence on Christianity in Nigeria would be calamitous. It is righteousness that exalts, sin brings destruction.
NCEF wishes to remind Nigerian Christians that the greatest danger to Christianity in Nigeria is Christian collaborators with Islamists. Without the Christian collaborators, Islamists could not have the upper hand in the nation. The Church has to be circumspect to ensure that it is represented by individuals of high moral integrity that would not become easily susceptible to financial inducement.