FOLLOWING recent spate of at­tacks on Christians by some Islamic fanatics in Kano, Niger, and Kadu­na states, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN has implored both the federal and state governments including security agencies to take steps to forestall the attacks.

While declaring that enough is enough, CAN, speaking through its General-Secretary, Rev. Musa Asake warned that Christians and Christian leaders will no longer fold their arms while some fanatics and misguided elements waste the lives of Christians.

“The situation is unacceptable to us, and we can’t continue like this. We urge government and other se­curity agencies to do the needful, otherwise it will be fire-for-fire, but we believe in peace and that is why we have been appealing to Chris­tians not to fight back. But for how long will we continue to appeal for restraint since this senseless kill­ings has continued?” he rhetori­cally asked.

The CAN scribe also spoke on other national issues including the recent development in Osun State following the use of hijab by Mus­lim students in public schools. He spoke to TUNDE THOMAS. Ex­cerpts:

What is the update on CAN’s position on the re­cent killing of a Christian woman in Kano for alleged blasphemy, by some Islamic fanatics, and the violent at­tack on one Emmanuel, a carpenter in Kaduna State by some Muslim youths who were reported to have been peeved that the man was eating during Ramadan?

Both attacks are very unfortu­nate. They are not only uncalled for, but also provocative. It is very sad that the Christian woman in Kano was killed by her assailants.

We are shocked and saddened by her untimely death. We are bothered by the growing level of tolerance by these people who pro­fessed to be Muslims. Something has to be done about it.

It is heartwarming that many eminent Islamic leaders and schol­ars have spoken out against these fanatics.

This, not withstanding we want the perpetrators of this crime to be brought to justice. He who killed must be killed. No human life is su­perior to another. We are all equal before God.

Is CAN satisfied by mea­sures taken so far by Kano and Kaduna state govern­ments over the issues?

We like the steps being taken so far by Governor Ganduje of Kano State to have those behind the kill­ing of the woman to be brought to justice. Some of them have already been arraigned in court. But that is not enough, other culprits must be apprehended. They must also suf­fer the same fate suffered by the woman.

In Kaduna State, Governor El- Rufai had also promised justice for the victim of the attack – he had even visited him in the hospi­tal. But like in Kano’s case, Gov­ernor El-Rufai must also ensure that those behind the attack on the Christian carpenter are also made to face justice.

What offence has the man com­mitted for eating during Ramadan since he is not a Muslim? Have these fanatics forgotten that Nige­ria is a secular state? Why do they want to impose their own faith on others? Why are they intolerant of other faiths?

I think religious leaders need to do more in the area of enlighten­ing their followers over doctrines and tenets of their religion. More importantly they must always let their followers know that Nigeria is not an Islamic entity, but rather a secular state.

Is CAN satisfied with the prompt condemnation of the incidents in Kano and Kaduna by the federal gov­ernment and state govern­ments concerned?

Well it is good that both the federal and state governments in­volved have spoken out to con­demn the attacks.

But I’m skeptical about the usual condemnations and assurances that such will never happen by govern­ment. That has become mere rheto­rics.

Federal and state governments should go beyond mere rheto­rics. They should follow their pronouncements with actions by ensuring that the perpetrators of mindless killings and violence are brought to book.

Impunity is what is dragging us back as a nation. When people commit crime and believe they can get away with it, they will be en­couraged to commit more heinous crimes. But if you apply sanctions, that will serve as a deterrent. How many of those involved in simi­lar attacks in the past have been brought to book?

If some of those people who committed these kind of crimes in the past have been sentenced to death and eventually hanged or be made to firing squad through execution, there would have been sanity. Those who want to commit such crimes would have restrained themselves.

The mater is very simple. Let both the federal and the state gov­ernments do the needful instead of issuing press statements after the deed had been done. That will look like playing to the gallery. The answer is very simple, anybody in­volved in those crimes should be charged to court while maximum penalty is invoked on them.

Fears are being expressed that if these issues are not quickly addressed that they are capable of igniting re­ligious war, do you share such view?

Those expressing such fears are absolutely right. We are only post­poning the evil day if we fail to take the right measures to address these crises. It is like sitting on a keg of gun powder. It can explode any­time.

But it is not in Nigeria’s best interest for us to be plunged into avoidable religious war.. Go to some of those countries involved in religious war at one time or the other, countries like old Sudan, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Turkey and a host of others. It was not a palat­able experience at all.

By our nature, Christians preach­es love, and harmony. We also fol­low the teachings of the Bible.

The Bible enjoin us not to take vengeance, but for how long will Christians keep quiet in the face of injustice. There is an extent to which people can suffer in silence? This is why we are appealing to government at all levels to take measures to avoid future occur­rences.

There have been reports of renewed threats Kano and Kaduna by some fanatics to carry out more attacks on Christians following arrests of some of those behind the earlier attacks, what mea­sure is CAN taking to protect Christians in those states?

What can CAN do? It is the Federal government and states that are constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of protecting the lives of citizens regardless of what­ever faith one professes.

Nigeria is a secular state, and I want our leaders to remember that it is their onerous responsibility to protect citizens and this should be done without bias or favour.

Then Nigerians should remem­ber that citizens are free to practice their faith or religion in any part of the country without harassment. The Nigerian Constitution guaran­tee that. Those fanatics should for­get the idea of one religion being superior to the other. It is a wrong and foolish idea.

Some people have de­clared that the renewed at­tacks and violence would have been averted if some religious leaders have been preaching the right doc­trines, and again the lack of a forum for Christian and Muslim leaders to regularly meet and rub minds periodi­cally has also been fingered as one of the reasons for the renewed religious intoler­ance, what is your view on this?

There is a need for religious leaders to preach without preju­dice, without bitterness or ran­cour. A religious leader that have a prejudiced mind towards other re­ligions including Christianity will obviously be preaching wrong doctrines to his members. Unfor­tunately some gullible followers especially illiterates followed this wrong teachings.

Eminent Islamic scholars have always been telling us that Islam preaches peace, and that it abhors

violence just like Christianity. But where people listen to wrong teach­ings, what do you expect as the end result? Religious leaders should preach tolerance, love, and har­mony across faiths especially in a secular state like Nigeria.

To avert religious war which is capable of throwing the nation into turmoil, federal and state govern­ments especially in the North must take measures to protect Christians — we should not allow the situation to degenerate to a situation where Christians will resort to self-help.

Osun State is in the news again over hijab issue as the state branch of CAN has threatened that Christian children will start attending classes in choir gowns, boy scout and girls guide appar­els if Muslims are allowed to wear hijab in Christian and public schools. How do you see this development, and what is the solution?

I believe the blame should go for the state governor, Rauf Aregbe­sola. Before he became Osun State governor, there was no religious crisis between Muslims and Chris­tians. But since his assumption of office, his actions showed that he has bias for a particular religion. But Aregbesola should not forget that he is not a Muslim governor. He is governor to all faiths in that state including traditionalists, and atheists. Aregbesola is a governor in a secular state.

Although they are talking about court judgement, but what I can say is that Aregbesola is respon­sible for whatever is happening in Osun State. We at the national level

are in total support of the decision by Osun State chapter of CAN that Christian pupils should attend classes in choir gowns, girl guide and boy scouts apparels includ­ing white garments, depending on whatever attire that appeals to any Christian parent.

We also support traditionalist decision to send their children to schools wearing masquerade re­galia and masks. Let everybody impose his own identity. That is what Governor Aregbesola want, and he should have it. We are not fighting or quarrelling with him, but what we will not allow is any­body or group to impose his or her own faith on us. We are for peace, but our desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a sign of weak­ness. Aregbesola should not play with fire in Osun State, and what­ever happens, he should be held responsible.

How can there be endur­ing peace and harmony between Christians and Muslims, especially in the Northern parts of the coun­try?

We are always for peace. Chris­tians have not been known for in­stigating violence or launching at­tacks on people of other faiths.

We can have enduring and last­ing peace when religious leaders not only preach tolerance but also implore their followers to be toler­ant of the other faiths. As Christians and Muslims, we should all see ourselves as brothers and sisters, and even before now, we used to see ourselves as one, until some years ago some fanatics started making trouble.