Restructuring: Be mindful of peoples’ sensibilities – Atiku

Cleric calls for ban of CAN, JNI

As the agitation for restructuring in the system of governance persists and the fast approach of the 2010 general election, former Vice President and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned Nigerians to be mindful of others who may not think, act or believe in what they do, saying that the country’s diversity ought to be her strength and not diversity.

A catholic priest, Reverend Father Gabriel Terwase Ngbea also called on the federal government to immediately ban the activities of religious bodies like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jamatul Nasrul Islam (JNI) to stem the tide of religious instigated crisis in the country.

Atiku who was speaking yesterday in Abuja as the Chairman of the occasion at the formal presentation of the book, titled “Constitutional Misconception of Secularism: Implications for Politics and Religion” said first country’s national constitution carefully considered the diverse character as a nation and chose the secular path in order to accommodate the diversity and peaceful coexistence.

The Waziri Adamawa, who was represented by the former Speaker of the Plateau state House of Assembly, George Daika said: “Let me, however, use this opportunity to remind us all that at this delicate moment in our nation’s history with separatist agitations, militancy of religious and secular varieties, calls for restructuring, and jostling for future elections; we should all be mindful of and sensitive to the feelings and preferences of those who may not think the way we think, the way we speak or worship or belong to the same political party. Our diversity ought to be our strength and, together, we can still build the Nigeria of our dreams”.

Rev.Fr. Ngbea, while calling for total ban of CAN and JNI in his book, said that government should set up an independent body to be known as “Religious Equity Commission” whose mandate should be to ensure that there is no discrimination among Nigerians on the basis of their faith.

Both proposals are contained in the new book authored by the Benue state born priest launched at the Yar’adua center yesterday.

Father Ngbea said on page 302 of his book that “CAN and JNI should be proscribed because apart from their failed mandate of advancing religious interests these bodies have constituted they into political organizations often deployed to pursue political interests”.

Speaking further, the clergyman said in order to keep faith with section 20 of the Nigerian constitution and to ensure that Nigerians practiced their faith in a manner that is devoid of discrimination, he is proposing “the establishment of an independent Religious Equity Commission whose mandate should be to ensure that there is no discrimination among Nigerians on faith.

“CAN and JNI should be completely banned in the country”, he said.

Benue state governor Samuel Ortom in his remarks said that politics and religion have been at the heart of problems confronting the country.

“Today in our country, two things are very important, politics and religion and if we can get it right, we will be able to make Nigeria great”.

He said that both Christianity and Islam all seek to bring love and peace to mankind, adding that these two religions will work toward bringing peace and love to the country.

On the brewing Labour crisis in Benue state, Ortom blamed the Nigeria Labor Congress of employing blackmail tactics over the workers’ salary arrears.
Rev. Father Bologo who represented the Archbishop of Abuja archdiocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan said that religion and politics have been taken too far in our country and that this has caused a lot of problems us as a nation.

“Nigeria should not have been where it is now but because we are using religion to divide the country and to cause disaffection. Nigeria is 90% on the wrong path as far as religion and politics is concerned”, he said.

The priest also used the opportunity to observe one important positive outcome of the event which he said has helped to dispel the rumor that the Benue state governor, Ortom and his predecessor, Gabriel Suswan have been at daggers drawn.

Both politicians who were all special guests for the yesterday’s book launch warmly exchanged greetings to the admiration of the audience at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua center in Abuja.

Tom Okpe, Abuja