The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Wednesday, lauded the Federal Government on its decision to proscribe Boko Haram and Ansaru Islamic fundamentalist sects, saying the decision should have come earlier than now.
The national Christian body also called for immediate dissolution of Boko Haram amnesty committee saying that such committee was no longer necessary.
The Federal Government had on Tuesday, issued a statement, tagging the Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, and Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, also known as Ansaru, as terrorist groups, warning that any one caught associating with the group in any way will risk 20 years jail term.
The General Secretary of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake, while addressing newsmen at a press conference on the launching of a nationwide campaign for the restoration of core values in the society, coming up on July 14, in Abuja said, “CAN has always had one position; it has always believed that these groups should have been designated before this time.
“CAN President has spoken on this and he got opposition from people, even when he addressed the congress of United States, he came back home, and some people were even saying he should be arrested, but we thank God that we are alive today to witness that what Pastor Oritsejafor said was the truth.
“The federal government was very slow, but thank God now that the government has woken up from its own sleep, to know that these are evil groups who do not know God.
“They were killing Christians, burning down churches, people were not saying much, the so-called northern elders were not saying much, but God has unveiled them. We now know that these are criminals, these are just bloodthirsty people, they don’t mean well for Nigeria.
“If you see the unveiling of the bushes, where they have their syringes, they drug themselves; they have condoms, for what? These are people who want to replace the constitution of the country with Sharia, to do away with churches.
“Federal government, thank you for the step you have taken, even though it is late, it is better late than never.”
On the N1.1b ransom placed on Shekau by the United States government, Rev. Asake said it was belated, adding that their action at the beginning of the insurgence was lackadaisical.
“The US is coming too late. They were trying to behave as if this issue was not very serious, because it was not touching them. But I believe that there were some influential Nigerians from the north that tried to dissuade the US,” he said.
The CAN scribe said with the latest development, the amnesty committee was no longer relevant and should, therefore, be dissolved, urging Christians not to cease praying for the country.
“CAN has been consisted right from the beginning. We don’t need amnesty committee. We called on the federal government that it was going to waste taxpayers’ money, but they did not listen.
“Now, tell me what is that committee doing now, what are they going to do, when the groups are running away and their evil acts are discovered. We are fascinated. It is only General Buhari who is trying to defend them. We don’t need any amnesty committee,” Rev. Asake maintained.
Speaking on theme of the campaign; ‘Be the Change You Want to See’, the Director in-charge of national issues for CAN, Rev. William Okoye, said the programme was designed to encourage all Christians to return to sound biblical discipline which would lead them to live examplary lives.
He said: “Lack of purposeful leadership has been identified to be the heart of Nigeria’s problems. The need for a new breed of courageous and visionary leaders of integrity, who are able to lead transformation in all spheres of the society, is therefore both critical and urgent.
“Today, our country gropes in the dark, looking for a new dawn. The church is expected to play a prominent role in her rebirth, reformation and reconstruction through a redefinition of the nation’s morality, code of conduct and discipline.
“These are achievable if the church places greater emphasis on sound biblical teachings and values.”
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