NCEF faults award given to Abiola, Fawehinmi, Kingibe

• Warns Against Purported Attempt To Arrest Obasanjo, Danjuma
The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has faulted the 2018 posthumous National honors award given to the Late Moshood Abiola, Gani Fawehinmi and the National Honors Award bestowed on Babagana Kingibe, describing it as an illegal and unconstitutional action.

The group further warned that any plan to arrest former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Theophilous Danjuma or Yakubu Gowon would amount to arrest of all Christian leaders in the country.

Briefing journalists yesterday in Abuja, Chairman of the Forum, Solomon Asemota, alleged that the award was merely an excuse to grant honors to a group of Muslims and to placate the Yorubas in preparation for 2019 general elections.

He said it is very disturbing that the true champion of June 12, Humphrey Nwosu who conducted the freest and fairest elections in the history of Nigeria was not considered worthy of inclusion in the 2018 National Honors adding that Nwosu wasn’t honoured because he is a Christian. “We are disturbed because all those granted the National honors including Baba Gana Kingibe are all Muslims. Not only is the impression being created that Muslims in Nigeria are in the forefront of championing democracy in the country but the awards further confirm the religious insensitivity and discrimination of President Buhari in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society”

Asemota claimed that the group observed that from events unfolding in the country that a president who was elected into power on the platform of democracy is using the Democratic office to promote Jihad.

He added that the religious exclusivity of the 2018 National Honors might also be one of the reasons it did not pass through the proper legal channels.

He said, “With respect to General Obasanjo, we believe him when he said recently that his life is under threat because Islam does not accept opposition and stealth jihad will be programmed to shut up Obasanjo temporarily or permanently”.

“We therefore urge Christians and all Nigerians of goodwill to continue to defend themselves against all forms of jihad. Danjuma was recently halted on his way out of the country and Christians must all be vigilant,” he added.