CPAN condemns FG’s attack on CAN for raising alarm over killings of Christians in Nigeria
Christian Press Association of Nigeria (CPAN) has condemned the Federal Government’s recent outburst against the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for raising alarm over the killings of Christians in Nigeria , especially the recent gruesome murder of Adamawa State CAN Chairman, Rev. Lawan Andimi by Boko Haram for refusing to renounce his faith.
CPAN, in a statement today signed by its General Secretary, Dayo Emmanuel, condemned Federal Government for blaming CAN for complaining and raising alarm on the continued killings of Christians in various parts of the country by Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen as well as general insecurity situation in the country.
It should be recalled that CAN leadership had last week in Abuja addressed a world press conference condemning the continued killings of Christians in Nigeria, calling on international communities to come to their aid.
Below is the full text of the statement :
In the last two months, the Buhari government and the Christian Association of Nigeria have been throwing brickbats at one another. Starting from December 2019 when Boko Haram announced the decapitation of 11 people, and the subsequent killings of some people by the evil body, CAN has been talking tough. And not only CAN, every concerned Nigerian has been lending their voice to the atrocious actions of the technically defeated terrorist group.
The killing of Rev Lawan Andimi, Chairman of CAN in the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State is perhaps the highpoint of the recent bloodletting by the monstrous group.
Some seem aghast that a technically defeated group could still be this visible and effective in trailing lives and asking for ransom.
Buhari had said, “I am greatly saddened by the fact that the terrorists went on to kill him (Lawan Andimi) even while giving signals of a willingness to set him free by releasing him to third parties.
“This incident has further strengthened our resolve as a government, and the resolve of our gallant Armed Forces, to comprehensively defeat all terrorist groups sowing death, violence, and destruction in our country and across West Africa,”
We are taken aback that a government that said Boko Haram has been technically defeated after about three years of giving such assurance is now talking about a comprehensive defeat. The truth is, whether comprehensive defeat or technical defeat nobody is certain of the state of the Boko Haram phenomenon in Nigeria.
And everybody has a right to be annoyed with President Buhari because he rode to power on the horse of insecurity in the land. And indeed many fell for the trap. Being a general in the army, some had thought his coming to government will mark the end of the insurgents.
But anybody who has keenly followed the trend will see that the antecedent of this government does not in any way show it has the desire and love of the masses. The APC government had in 2013 kicked against the proscription of Boko Haram saying it would be illegal if the then government did so.
Of course the corruption ridden government of Goodluck Jonathan did not do much to curb the insurgents. But then, how do we reconcile the clay feet attitude of the APC to Boko Haram when it was waiting in the wings to seize power. There were newspaper reports that the president and indeed the APC had taken exception to the way the then Federal government was dealing with Boko Haram.
That terrorists are now being freed from detention and being rehabilitated is enough ground to suspect this government’s intention. It was Father Mathew Kukah, the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, who put it succinctly that this government is “giving oxygen to the insurgents”. Pray, why will the president keep a failed security team in the face of its glaring failure and ineptitude? Why concentrate the appointments of the security chiefs largely in one region and religion?
While people kept raising dust about the new strength of the technically defeated insurgents Lawan Andini was beheaded. The reason for the action was that he refused to embrace Islam. And then, CAN came up with a vitriolic statement that has pitched it against the FG.
Already, people have misgivings about CAN. It was former president Olusegun Obasanjo that first rubbished CAN with his famous, “CAN my foot” statement. And then every dick and harry at the slightest opportunity has washed their tongue on CAN.
Our CAN bashing is getting to a ludicrous level and quite unfortunate. In the first place you can’t beat somebody and ask the person not to cry. CAN is being beaten. Christians are being killed. Pray, CAN should start clapping for the government that vowed to protect lives and properties? We don’t really get it. Can somebody educate us? Why on earth will some Christians be the instruments being used to turn the dagger on a platform that unites us?
We have had occasions of taking on CAN sometimes in the past and have expressed our views about some of its actions that lacked morality. But on this Lawan Andimi, we think it is unfair to rubbish the body. CAN has every right to make statements and make insinuations. And we think the honourable thing for the FG to do is to explain to the public and tell us the steps being taken to protect lives and properties. But to want to intimidate CAN and explain away the seeming lawless state of Nigeria to us is not fair.
While we still hold Mr. Femi Adesina, spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari in high esteem, we feel really uncomfortable with his attack on CAN for making its grievances known. Our nation cannot progress if we continue to play the ostrich during critical situations. We hold the view that Adesina’s outburst in his debut Friday online column that CAN was wrong in expressing its views and misgivings was in bad taste and condemnable. That column was ill-timed and has only helped to aggravate the already tensed situation in the country.
We hope Mr. Adesina will be able to see reasons why he needed to be cautious in the future while offering an opinion on such sensitive national issue.
We pray that the Lord will give us understanding as we all work for the progress of Nigeria. God bless Nigeria.
