CAN urges Muslims to promote peace, unity

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged Muslims in the country to remember the sacrificial lifestyle of Abraham and promote peace, harmony, love, tolerance and forgiveness.In a Sallah massage yesterday in Abuja, CAN president, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, noted that God must have reasons for allowing both Christianity and Islam to co-exist in the country and appealed to the adherents of both religions to embrace peace, love and unity.

“Once this is done, most of the ongoing killings in Nigeria will become history; after all both religions traced their sources to father Abraham. If we are both his children, what joy do we derive in killing one another?

“Abraham was a man of peace and faith, it is high time we followed his footsteps. We wonder why some state governments in the North would literally declare war or hatred on Christianity. For example, most of them have it as a policy not to give Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) to churches, with a view to denying them places of worship, when the 1999 Constitution (as amended) allows freedom of worship and association. This is not so in the Christian-dominated states in the South. This policy must be discarded to promote peace.

“We rejoice with the Muslim Ummah in the country as they celebrate this year’s Eid-al-Adha, otherwise known as the Festival of Sacrifice. It is needless to remind our Muslim brothers and sisters that the festival is to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God who commanded him to do so with a view to tempting him.”

Ayokunle, who urged politicians to stop vote-buying, violence, blood-letting and other ills associated with campaign and election, said “it is regrettable that many politicians are not aspiring to serve, but to amass wealth at our expense, and this is why election has become a do-or-die affair.” He argued that if a political party fulfils its campaign promises, violence, force and intimidation would not be needed to retain the seat.