In search of Christian unity in Nigeria

The publication of the so called, “Patriotic Christian Youths of Nigeria (PCYN)” on May 30, 2016 in Global Reporters calls for further enquiry because it contradicts the mission of the Church to the civil society and the whole essence of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The constitution of CAN recognises the Youths Wing of […]

The publication of the so called, “Patriotic Christian Youths of Nigeria (PCYN)” on May 30, 2016 in Global Reporters calls for further enquiry because it contradicts the mission of the Church to the civil society and the whole essence of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The constitution of CAN recognises the Youths Wing of CAN (YOWICAN) but we do not know PCYN and their sponsors. However, there is need to know what this group intends to achieve with the publication: “Presidency and APC: Questionable characters want to hijack CAN Election”.  In the publication,the organisation “accused the Presidency and All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to install its stooge with a view to paving way for the emasculation of Christians and turn the country to an Islamic state”(http://globalreportersnews.com). This document signed by Evangelist Simon Timothy Nasso is alarming and capable of instigating civil and religious unrest.
If the intention of this group is not to create conflict between the Christian Association and the federal government of Nigeria, then, there is need for the group to substantiate their facts with concrete evidence.  If it is true that the incumbent leadership of the country is interested in the affairs of CAN, then it becomes an advantage for the Christian body given that in world history, relationship between Church and State has promoted peace and progress in the society. Moreover, the past leaderships of CAN had been close to the various governments of their time. Some past Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had hoped that if the Christian body is united and the Muslim body is united, both could come together to promote peace and religious co-existence in Nigeria. This could be the same reason why these governments encouraged the Nigeria Inter-religious Executive Council (NIREC). Consequently, the publication of PCYN does not speak for the entire Christians.
The Bible encourages us to pray for those in authority, “that they be generous and have compassionate hearts for the poor and needy (1 Kings 10:33-37); “that they recognize their own inadequacy and pray and seek the will of God” (Proverbs 3:5-8); “that they seek and follow godly and God fearing friends and colleagues” (Psalms 1:1-3); “that they be granted wisdom, knowledge and understanding to lead the citizens” (James 1:5); “that they be prepared to give account to Almighty God” (Hebrews 9:27); “that they seek pastoral care and counsel when needed” (Hebrew 13:7) and many other intentions. Here again are Paul’s words to Timothy : “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity (1Timothy 2:1-2).
The duty therefore of a Christian is to promote peace, justice and harmony between the civil authority and the Christian body. The followers of Jesus Christ listen to the voice of God who says: “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). The leadership of CAN NEC had worked in close collaboration with the past governments in Nigeria. The aim was to assist the government to succeed in the areas of security and other concerns of the nation.
On January 1, 2014, Channels Television reported that, “Nigerian Religious Leaders Call for Peace and Religious Tolerance”. This appeal to Christians and Muslims to live in harmony and promote unity was made by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor who convened the one-day inter-faith conference held in Abuja to discuss ways of promoting peace and religious tolerance in Nigeria. He emphasised the need for honest religious leaders and scholars to come together to work for the sustenance of peace, religious understanding and respect for human dignity. He stressed that under a peaceful atmosphere, religious leaders had the capacity to set an agenda for achieving the desired unity, peace and mutual respect for adherents of all faiths. He said that religious leaders need to pursue an agenda that would create equal opportunities for all Nigerians (http://www.channelstv.com/2014/01/29).
The ultimate reason for the existence of the Christian Association of Nigeria is to promote Christian unity. This is relevant for the objectives and obligations of the Christian Association to the Nigerian Government, people of other religions and the society at large. Even if the Christians want to go to war against any perceived enemy, those who love conflict should also know that, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand” (Mark 3:24-25).  It is not right for any Christian to celebrate the failure of ECWA Church to resolve the apparent conflict that could not make TEKAN/ECWA bloc present a candidate for the June 2016 election of CAN. This failure should rather be a source of shame to the Christian body. The failure is a deep wound in the heart of an association that exists for the concerns of unity and peaceful coexistence in order to build enough capacity to minister to the secular world. Deep in my heart I could imagine the world telling the Christian Association: “Show me Jesus, the Prince of peace”! The world expects the Christians to respond: To see me is to see Jesus just as Jesus said to Philip, “To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, ‘where is the Father’” (John 14:9)?
The Church is a reconciled reconciler and not a manipulated manipulator. In every act of conflict, there is the need for the intervention of a third party. Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor had always prayed, “may God do for you what you cannot do for yourself”. This prayer could have motivated him to pay the CAN levy for TEKAN/ECWA when the bloc could not pay for itself. Otherwise, the bloc would not have qualified to vote during the election that eventually made Pastor Oritsejafor President of CAN. When there was conflict regarding the candidature of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor to be president of CAN, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the incumbent President and a contestant was more concerned about peace and the Christian unity than his personal ambition to do a second term as CAN President. To resolve the issue, he directly intervened by calling the leaders of the blocs. That enabled Pastor Oritsejafor to contest. The result was that John Cardinal Onaiyekan conceded defeat to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.  The decision of the CAN NEC of giving two weeks to ECWA Church to resolve its conflict without a third party as against my suggestion of direct intervention by the President of CAN on that day has proven to be an error. Now it is obvious that even if a patient is a medical doctor, he has a limit to self-medication.
According to the Decree on Ecumenism of the Second Vatican Council, “The attainment of union is the concern of the whole Church, faithful and shepherds alike. This concern extends to everyone, according to his talent” (Decree on Ecumenism, 5). The Council fathers added that, “There can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without a change of heart….We should therefore pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be genuinely self-denying, humble, gentle in the service of others” (Decree on Ecumenism,7). I am convinced that the desire of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is to leave behind a credible leadership that would continue his good work but I am afraid that he may be handing over a fractured and dismembered Christian Association. The present crack in CAN is not beyond solution. All that is required is the moral courage, political will and ecumenical spirit. This is more important than the ambition to clone a new CAN President for selfish reasons.
Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Director of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja ([email protected])