CAN Fault Islamic Cleric On Hate Message

National body of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has tasked Islamic Clerics to concentrate on religious teachings that will unite the country rather than spreading hate messages that will further divide Nigeria

CAN, speaking through the National Youth President, Engr. Daniel Kadzai, cautioned Islamic Pundits to watch their utterance as religious extremism is capable of splitting Nigeria especially at this critical time, which the country has found it self.

Kadzai stated this while responding to the statement credited to, Ishaq Akintola, Director Muslim Right Concern (MURIC), when he called for a fair treatment between Christians and muslim with the view that Muslims are being short changed in Nigeria.

The CAN Youth President viewed the statement as insulting to Christians when all juicy appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari were giving to not only the North but to Muslims in the North.

Kadzai also accused Ishaq Akintola for alluding that Muslims where compelled to operate Christian financial system with “Riba” (Interest), which is forbidden in Islam, stating that the banking system practice in Nigeria is in line with the global best practice.

His words, “the public utterance attributed to MURICK Director, Ishaq Akintola, is diversionary and escapist from the main issue to promote peace in Nigeria.

“One wonders what Ishaq meant by calling for “fair treatment” between Christians and Muslims. It would be recalled that we have earlier expressed our concern in a publication title, Nigeria, a democracy or Caliphate? The one-sided appointment of over 90% key office holders in this administration to favour only Muslims, is highly suspicious and unacceptable.

“The war against insurgents also appear to be fought through the media propaganda machinery, while Christians are killed on daily basis by either islamist, terrorist or Fulani herdsmen.

“For Ishaq Akintola to allude that Muslims where compelled to operate Christian financial system with “Riba” (Interest) which is forbidden in Islam clearly exposes his ignorance of Christianity and the history of the emergence of global banking system. To put the records straight, the Bible is clearly against ‘Usury’ and ‘exploitation’ from the Old to the New Testament.

“The Islamic cleric’s claim that Muslim Children were denied Islamic education is the greatest fallacy and misleading allegation and he is rather being misled by the reality of the fact that Christians are being denied the right to practice their religion in states like, Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Katsina and Jigawa, among others.

“His demand for a Friday work-free day as compared to Sunday public holiday sounds childish. We believe he is playing to the gallery for more funds from his sponsors and mentors. To further educate him and others who may be ignorant, theSunday pubic holiday has been a long historical practice globally including in Islamic countries”, he said.