The Supreme Council of Bishops, also known as the World Council of Bishops, has berated the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, over its recent criticism of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.
Reacting, the Islamic forum described the demand by CAN as “indecorous, ill-advised, ill-motivated” which was “only aimed at polarising the country.”
However, the bishops have admonished NSCIA to “let CAN be.”
They made the call in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST via a global press release from the group’s World Episcopal headquarters in Houston, Texas, United States of America via Africa Episcopal headquarters in Lagos.
The statement was endorsed by the Supreme Council of Bishops; the World Council of Bishops; The Global Advisory Board; the Global Council of Apostolic Nuncio (s); and the Prelate and its Deputies across all 7 continents of the world; the Central Executive Council Globally; all Regional and National Prelates Worldwide, and the General Assembly Worldwide.
The statement reads: “It has come to Our ecclesiastical official knowledge on Friday, 5th April, 2019, on Page 16 of Vanguard Newspaper (a Nigeria’s National Daily), at the World Episcopal Headquarters in Houston, Texas, United States of America, Our Africa Episcopal Headquarters, in Lagos, Nigeria, and Nigeria’s National Episcopacy in Abuja, Nigeria, for The Supreme Council of Bishops (SCOB) notice, of Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs’ (NSCIA) wrong accusation of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Call for religious balancing in NASS leadership as ill- motivated.
“Firstly, Nigeria Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs accusing Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) stand for religious balancing as ill- motivated is wrong, as We as a Global Council of Bishops worldwide after careful observation, wish to intimate NSCIA that CAN’s call for religious balancing in the NASS leadership is the right step in the right direction taken with wisdom after due proper and wide consultations with all the Arms of CAN and its stakeholders nationwide, thus NSCIA describing CAN’s visit, is not ill-advised, nor ill-motivated intervention in Nigeria’s polity.
“The Supreme Council of Bishops respectfully advises NSCIA not to meddle on official matters that concerns CAN’s official affairs especially when it concerns their operations with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the three Arms of Governance of Nigeria’s polity, as the same inalienable constitutional right NSCIA possesses, is the same CAN wields , and matters of politics that concerns CAN, CAN has the right to seek for redress and balancing.
“Furthermore , it might interest NSCIA to note carefully here that, CAN’s posture on its call for religious balancing in the leadership of NASS as not counterfoil or an opposition to everything Islam, Muslims, nor Islamaphobia in the Nigerian State. But CAN is working in understanding with NSCIA to achieve a common national goal as a national Christian association for the good of all its christian faithfuls nationwide, even as it concerns this important issue at stake.
“In conclusion, NSCIA must as a matter of fact be guarded in its choice of words, rhetorics or description about the Christian Association of Nigeria, as far as this matter of national importance is concerned, as fellow Nigerians , both CAN and NSCIA are all answerable and adherents of the Constitution of theh Federal Republic of Nigeria bound by equal rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of association, as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution, NSCIA please take note. Thank You All.”
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