Hands off politics, group warns NSCIA, CAN

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the apex umbrella bodies of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, have been warned to henceforth stop meddling into political affairs of the country or face public disgrace.

The National Democratic Front (NDF), which handed this warning to the religious organisations, said it was appalled by activities of the bodies in the country as they continue to rapidly evolve into political parties.According to Secretary-General of the group, Dr. Bolaji Abdulkadir, who gave the warning at a press conference on behalf of NDF yesterday, the trend is a dangerous slide into chaos, one that must be avoided at any cost.

The group also frowned at the failure of both religious bodies to contribute meaningfully to addressing the security challenges posed by terrorism, separatist agitations and militancy in the country.The statement read in part: “In the period leading to the general elections, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) became fully partisan. It started by leaning towards the endorsement of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. To drive home the point, many Christian clergy were to later desecrate their altars by going full blown partisan and presented their campaign for PDP as Sunday sermons.

“If CAN’s indiscretion is cringe worthy, the decision of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to join its counterpart in the mud is beyond describable. Ironically, in our view, CAN, NSCIA and other groups that have become cheerleaders for political parties are not even doing so in order for reputable persons to emerge.“They are rather shopping for those that would looting the treasury and remit part of the proceeds of crime to their members.

“With this kind of attitude, there is no doubt that the Church and the Mosque have refused to take their eyes away from corruption. Their approach to the scourge has made it fashionable in government circle where people steal without mercy and only to pay same back to their paymasters.

“The most glaring area of failure on the part of both organisations is their open endorsement of corruption and theft of public funds. Politicians in Nigeria identify either as Christians or Moslems and it is highly unfashionable for those seeking elective offices to identify as skeptics, agnostics or atheists.

“As they continue making less than responsible comments and interventions in the politics, we wonder if CAN and NSCIA are aware that they are increasingly appearing like the religious wings of the PDP and APC. This is clearly dangerous to democracy more so when APC had been maligned in the past as a party that has an Islamisation agenda and the PDP is increasingly appearing like a party favoured in Christian dominated areas.”

If the leaders of CAN and NSCIA continue to indulge this misconception until it becomes a reality, then the blood of those that would die from potential crises from this shall be on their hands.”