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Follow Us on Google DiscoverCAN is achieving the purpose for which it was set up. It is doing everything to preserve Christian unity, but not every Christian can agree with that. Like every other organisation, it has its strong and weak points. What is important, however, is that God has made His followers to come together as one. So, our vision and the mission in Nigeria, is to bring Christians, irrespective of their denominations or doctrines, under the umbrella of CAN. In an attempt to bring superior reasons on moral issues, it is doing well, winning souls for Christ, speaking for Christians and providing alternatives to what is happening in the world at the moment. This is not to say we have achieved every purpose, but life is a continuum.
Though we have our weak points, we will continue to work on them and solidify on strong ones. It is not yet eureka for Christians; we’ve not got to the Promised Land yet. We are only appealing to the Christian body to submit to the overall supremacy of time. Right from the beginning, the church has its internal enemy that is working against its unity. This brings to focus the various wars being waged by external forces against Christians all over the world and Nigeria is no exception. This calls for organisations such as CAN to check aggression against Christians. When is the right time for Christians to defend themselves?
On attacks against Christians, we take our cue from the Bible, which is our constitution and we endeavour to follow it. Nowhere can it be shown in the Bible that the best defence is offence. That is the principle of the world. Our own principle is that we have to obey what the Bible says and not what you as an individual think. Jesus taught us that when you are slapped on one cheek, you turn the other to them. In another instance, Jesus asked: If somebody abuses you and you abuse the person back, how are you better than the unbeliever? He taught us that we should pray for our enemy and do good to those that harm us.
From the two examples of the many teachings of Christ, opposition against Christians doesn’t give room for the repayment of evil. That is why Christianity is not an easy way of life and is so distinct from all other religions globally. What is left for us in the modern day is to wait and pray. We have the right to defend ourselves, the right to preserve our lives to continue to be the light to the darkness of the world, but not to descend to the level, where people would just take up arms and attack innocent people on no just cause. The mission of the Christians is simply to go into the darkness with our superior actions, ways of life and level of faith.
What is your view on ministers of God going into politics? Ministers of God, as well as our brothers in the Muslim world, are revered and their followers also look up to them. What they do and say is significant to them. So, where there are two people, you’ll always find politics, which is an arrangement and understanding of how people want to exist together. Unfortunately, however, many ministers have debased the privilege of that position for lack of understanding. A good Christian has three-dimensional aspects before God — he represents God on earth, he is a king and a priest that has a dominion and authority over all things. So, Christians should be co-habitants in this order.
The fear of God among Christians should be an advantage for them to rule better. Politics is an act before kings and priests’ powers. So, politics is already in every human being as a king/priest, who God authorised to have dominion on all things. What we need is good people inspired by God to become our leaders and Christians should take the lead here. It is a wrong belief for them to abstain from politics.
Are you of the view that a Christian governor is needed in Lagos?
We have had good Muslims that have served well in the country and in Lagos — Tafawa Balewa, Lateef Jakande, Bola Tinubu and the immediate past governor, Raji Fashola. But we thought that if care were not taken, it would seem that the position was reserved only for Muslims. We saw that and we challenged it in order to prove that goodness does not reside in one religion and that people from other religions can serve and do well in Lagos too.
I believe that Ambode, through our prayers, will bring about positive change we desire in Lagos.
Any word on the Chibok girls?
The Chibok girls issue is a symptom of wickedness, devilish mind and thinking of those who believe they can twist Islamic doctrine to suit their heinous crime. Boko Haram must not only be technically defeated, but also truly defeated. It takes concerted effort. We should not say today we are fighting Boko Haram and tomorrow we are negotiating with them. We need sincerity of government to achieve result on this.
Buhari has a good mind and good intention for the country. He should not be allowed to be taken away by lust. Nigeria is a country that is able to cater for all its citizens with a reasonable leader, which is what we hope he is.
What is your take on Arts and religion? Art is a complete religion and the admirer of nature exposes man to all aspects of living. God created man to represent Him on earth.
I wonder why people should attach negatives to the work of arts vis-à-vis their religious belief. The same people that condemn artworks embrace mobile phones, which are also work of arts! People have used their creative mind in evil ways. But when our minds are fully developed, we will appreciate God more.
Fall in oil price and advice for government
The downturn in oil price is worldwide and Nigeria is not the only country that is facing the hard time. But because we have foolishly over-romanced the mono-economy of oil, we are now paying dearly for it. It takes just America to change its demand for our oil, and we find ourselves in this mess. What that teaches us in Nigeria, nay Africa is that we should diversify our economy and embrace mechanised agriculture.
Government should revive the refineries and ensure new ones are built. Our educational system must be quality based and health facility expanded. We are now adopting one method of healing – orthodox synthetic Western medicine. Complementary alternative herbal medicine should be encouraged. Welfare of the people must be government’s priority.
The governors that are saying they cannot pay minimum wages are the ones that have misapplied the funds available to their states. The responsibility of every political leader should be the welfare of the people they have been elected to serve. We have made our stand known that no governor should think of reduction in minimum wage.
So, this calls to question the formant of governance in the country. We need to address it by going back to the last Confab communiqué. The Buhari government should revisit and study it, look at the suggestions that will help the nation to move forward and make use of them. States have been provided with how they can develop at their pace. What obtains in Lagos cannot hold in Nasarawa.
So, if Lagos decides to pay higher than any state, this is not enough justification for the state to compete with Lagos. There is also the issue of security, where the Confab emphasised on state police.
What do you have to say on the on-going war against corruption? All the revelations concerning the missing funds are mind-boggling. Government should ensure that every kobo is recovered and those found guilty of corruption punished.
