Southern Kaduna Crisis: Methodist Primate Tells CAN, Imams To Stop Trading Blames

Southern Kaduna Crisis: Methodist Primate Tells CAN, Imams To Stop Trading Blames

Primate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Chukuwemeka Kanu, has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Council of Ulamas to stop trading blames over the ethno-sectarian crisis rocking Jema’a Local Government Area and other councils in the southern part of Kaduna State.

Primate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Chukuwemeka Kanu, has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Council of Ulamas to stop trading blames over the ethno-sectarian crisis rocking Jema’a Local Government Area and other councils in the southern part of Kaduna State.

The Methodist Primate offered the advice when he visited Kaduna to commiserate with the governor, Mr. Nasir el-Rufai. According to Dr. Kanu, the ceaseless swapping of blames between the leading lights of the two religions will further create divisions in the state and the country in general, adding that the Methodist Church is against the blame game.

“Our church is not in support of that. It does not help us that CAN and the Council of Ulamas are accusing each other. CAN should not accuse Ulamas; Ulamas should not accuse Christians. They should work together for peace,” he said in an interview during the visit.

Dr. Kanu described the ongoing crisis and the attendant loss of lives as unnecessary, callous and symptomatic of intolerance. Nigerians, irrespective of religion and ethnicity, he advised, should learn to live together. Religious bigotry and ethnic chauvinism, especially expressed through the denigration of others will not promote love.

He warned that without peace, the country’s chances of economic growth will recede. 

“If we are talking about the economy, there can be no growth in our economy without peace. There can be no movement without peace. We need peace, we need togetherness, we need love.

I was told when I went to Israel that these religions came from one father: Abraham or Ibrahim. Christianity came from Ibrahim; Islam came from Ibrahim, so why should we quarrel? Have we ever heard that Abraham killed? So why should we be killing ourselves in the name of God or Allah or Jesus?” he asked. 

The Methodist Primate noted that the foundational texts of the two religions-Bible and Qur’an- forbid killing. He opined that religion is being used by unscrupulous elements for their selfish goals. Dr. Kanu added that it is time for Nigerians to pray to God to should expose those manipulating the people through religion.

“If we can fish them out and confine them somewhere, Nigeria will move on. I don’t see why I would be uncomfortable with Islamic prayer; I will never be uncomfortable with it. And I don’t know why my brother Imam or a Muslim will be uncomfortable with a Christian prayer. Are we calling on idols? The point is that we are not living by what we are teaching. We read the Bible, we read the Qur’an and see everything they say about brotherliness and about love, but we go around to do another thing. We are not to hate one another,” he said.