Oiling religious wheels

They criticized the CAN president for not acting in consonance with the reality of things in Nigeria. By his endorsement of government’s plan on fuel subsidy, the group observed that the CAN president is using the umbrella body of Christians to chart a different aspiration from what they used to know of the organisation. They […]

They criticized the CAN president for not acting in consonance with the reality of things in Nigeria. By his endorsement of government’s plan on fuel subsidy, the group observed that the CAN president is using the umbrella body of Christians to chart a different aspiration from what they used to know of the organisation. They alleged that CAN has been brought to ridicule and has been denigrated by those who know little or nothing of the Christian religion, or even the richly-cherished history of CAN because of the activities of its present leadership.

They insist that the best way to support President Goodluck Jonathan is to speak the truth at all cost, and not to blindly support everything the government plans. The group said Christians may support Jonathan because he is a Christian, and even help him deal with some of his challenges, but on the issue of the removal of subsidy, he is wrong, he is going astray and is desperately in need of redemption. Finally, they advised the president of CAN to remember the day of judgement, and to be careful in deciding when to remain silent and speak only when it is useful.

On the same day the Concerned Christians in the North released their statement condemning Pastor Oritsejafor’s support for subsidy removal, another elderly Christian and an outstanding statesman and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon advised President Jonathan against hasty removal of subsidy. Gowon who had paid a courtesy visit to Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, told journalists that since government appears set to remove the subsidy, it should do so gradually to avoid adding to the present hardship faced by citizens. He advised that refineries should be made to refine what the nation needs before the subsidy is removed.

The two events in Kaduna indicate, in varying degrees, that the subsidy issue will severely test the commitment of President Jonathan to the welfare of the Nigerian people; as well as his capacity to engage citizens in honest dialogue as opposed to paid adverts and spokespersons who do more damage than good to his cause.

The president certainly does not need spokesmen like the president of CAN to support him on this subsidy controversy. The scathing dismissal of the CAN president’s support by a group of Christians is only the visible side of the issue. Christians live and suffer in Nigeria like everyone else and the inconveniences they will pass through when the subsidy is removed will be worse because they have a Christian as president.

Dada Idowrote from DITV/Alheri Radio, Kaduna