Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Borno State Chapter, Rev. Jonah Hamidu has said the rebuilding of places of worship by the government in Borno after eight years of Boko Haram conflict has increased the confidence of the Christian community in the government.

Hamidu who is also the leader of the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/PFN, a major block of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Borno State maintained that the places of worship are public buildings which should attract government attention and support whenever they are affected by conflicts.

He was reacting to criticisms regarding rebuilding of places of worship in the reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement programme of the Borno State government. He said the religious adherents are same people government is working for who also vote in elections. He spoke about the impact of the Boko Haram crisis on the church, interfaith relationship among religious leaders among others in this interview. 

What is the situation in Borno after years of killing and bloodletting?

We thank God things are picking up. We still have some pockets of attacks by the Boko Haram but largely, the military and other security agencies are trying; though we need more prayers. We can’t do it with the guns alone. I was trained as a counter-terrorism police officer and I know it is not easy to subdue terrorists easily. We need to intensify prayers.

In some quarters, Boko Haram was perceived to be a war against Christians but the insurgents have attacked Muslims and people of diverse social background. In which way has the church been affected specifically? 

When the crisis began in 2009, Boko Haram attacks were targeted at Christians, but as time went by, they (insurgents) expanded the attacks generally to both Christians and our Muslim brothers and anybody. The insurgency has adversely affected the people of Borno State particularly the Christians as I said. If we are to go back to the beginning in 2009 and the continued effects, there have been so many houses that were burnt down without compensation. There were shops and private enterprises that have been devastated, so many people have been killed with others rendered homeless, jobless, and many also were forcefully rendered orphans, unaccompanied Children and widows. But God is helping us, by His Grace we are now forging ahead.

So what has been the response of the Borno government especially to the Christian community which is in minority?

To be specific, from 2009 there has been no compensation to any Christian from my own understanding, but we are most grateful to the present government under the leadership of Governor Kashim Shettima who inherited the crisis from his predecessor in 2011. Let us put politics aside, we have never had any governor in Muslim majority Borno State building burnt churches, until the coming of Governor Shettima. The governor based from my understanding and the realities on ground, has tried in that aspect. Maybe government is doing its rebuilding process in phases, because as it is, the National Evangelical, the E.Y.N (church of Brethren), the Catholic churches and the rest of them in Maiduguri metropolis were affected by the crisis in previous years and I have not heard anything about intervention.

 However, Based on the briefings of the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno Chapter, Bishop Mohammed Naga which I have been privileged to know, Governor Shettima has approved and released money for the rebuilding of most of the burnt churches in Hawul, Askira-Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas that are predominantly Christian communities. Also, it would interest you to know that when Bishop of Anglican Communion of Nigeria, Maiduguri Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kana Mani-of blessed memory died in February last year as a result of a brief illness, Governor Shettima gave the sum of N10 million cash to the bereaved family. He also pledged to give a befitting accommodation to the family in one the estates built by his administration. This is a departure from experiences of Christians under previous administrations. In fact, under previous administration, some of our pastors were killed by terrorists and nothing was done to appease their families left behind not to talk of those who died naturally like Kana Mani.

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But many Nigerians feel that the government should not be involved in religious matter since it is a personal issue?

Who told you government is not supposed to be involved in religious matters? Churches and Mosques are public buildings because they are places where citizens who are the public converge. Church or Mosque is a public building. Moreover, we are talking about rebuilding. These places were destroyed by Boko Haram or during religious conflict. If government has the resources, it should assist in rebuilding places of worship that were destroyed. It is a right step in the right direction. Citizens have rights to worship. Given the crisis, people don’t have the resources as their economy has been destroyed, their homes have been destroyed and they don’t have anywhere to live and worship, and so, it is good thing that Governor Kashim Shettima is doing these as part of government rebuilding processes.

 Apart from rebuilding churches, how has the relationship between the state government and the Christian community been especially in a state troubled by conflict with a lot of suspicion?

Personally, I know that since Governor Shettima came on board in 2011, he has been sponsoring many Christians on annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This gives Christians a sense of belonging the way Muslims are sponsored for Hajj. This sense of fairness enhances coexistence, builds love and inter-faith trust which contribute to peace in any society. This helps because Islamic scholars and traditional rulers in my area in my area for instance are very wonderful.

We have been living as members of the same family. We are very cordial with them, anything I want to do, I will meet them and inform them, and also, anything the Bulamas (Village Heads) or the Imams want to do, they will come to me and inform me as well. Citizens of different faith will only work together when their leader does take side against one religion in a manner that shows clear injustice. What I think is most important about Shettima is that he is a leader that listens and this is very important to us. Anytime we call on him, he gives us a listening ear on all issues. I am happy to inform you that this governor and his administration have not neglected the Christian community like previous governors did. Presently, so many people particularly we the Christians have been saying that the governor is the best governor Borno has ever had in terms of relating with Christians. And this is what I can say because, I don’t know other aspect of his personal life, but in relating with Christians, the man is excellent from day one.

Let me give you an instance, during former governor Ali Modu Sheriff led-government, the man does not relate with Christians, and that was why he refused to rebuild or compensate any church that was burnt down in 2006. He feels Christians don’t have good numbers in elections here in Borno State. But it will interest you to know that Governor Shettima’s body language is more about building peace. He has been very careful as an educated and refined leader. These are what I can say about the governor and his concern about the Christians in the state. This relationship can be sustained if the Christians would also pray for the governor to succeed. Although his tenure is coming to an end next year, we still have long way to go, because, it is through collective prayers from all and sundry that government can succeed. The governor also has a role to play in sustaining this relationship if he doesn’t fall for any biased influence.

You spoke about inter-faith relationships among religious leaders on one hand and between the government and religious leaders on the other hand, what is the situation in terms of the wider Borno society outside of government?

There is clear extension of this. For example, recently the military here in Borno State called a meeting of Muslim leaders, like the Imams and the Christian leaders were also invited, where we interacted with them for about three to four times on how we will work collectively for the peace and development of the state. We have discussed extensively on issues relating to how we will continue to relate and pray together so that God will hear us and answer our prayers at the same time.

So I can testify to you that what we are doing together in Maiduguri, if it can be extended to other states of the federation, it will take us a long way and Nigeria can be a great nation. The problem with us in Nigeria is that most people, especially leaders do not think of the future.  It is unfortunate as we only have a short plan rather than a long plan in our lives. The religious crisis in some parts of the north is caused by selfish people, people who don’t think of tomorrow like I said earlier. These people are called fanatics who are sponsoring jobless and heartless people to achieve their selfish interest; these are people who do not respect humanity. This situation can be curtailed if our leaders educate them, provide them with jobs, and incentives to make them engaged. It is unfortunate that any destruction we are doing now in the name of religion will definitely tell on our children, and even grand and great-grand children.