The President of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), The Most Reverend Dr David Onuoha, has challenged the Federal Government to be bold and courageous enough to accept the reality of Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Archbishop Onuoha said the acceptance of the reality of systematic and asymmetrical depopulation of Christians and anti-terror voices would not only enable the Federal Government take appropriate measures to “take away these enemies of mankind who are behind these (terrorist) acts but also unmask and deal decisively with their sponsors.”
The Most Reverend Onuoha, who is also the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri and the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Okigwe South, threw this challenge on Thursday in his Presidential address to the delegates of the 32nd Triennial General Assembly and 96th Anniversary Celebrations of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) held in Abuja.
He declared that the desire of the President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump, to assist Nigeria in overcoming her problem of insecurity, “should be welcomed with open arms.”
“Those who are working very hard to impose a mono-religious culture in the land should be honest to accept that Nigeria is big and large enough to be pluralistic in faith, way of life and cultural beliefs and practices. It is trite to remember that we became Nigerians first before we became religious and, therefore, should endeavour to prioritise our humanity above any other consideration,” he said.
On the perceived threat to Nigerian democracy, Archbishop David Onuoha noted recent development in the political space, which revealed a slide towards a one-party State, portends grave danger to the democratic experience in Nigeria.
“A situation where politicians jump ship just for self-preservation is pitiable. The sheer absence of patience, principles, tenacity, and decorum needed to nurture an enduring political culture are totally absent in the brand we see here. In other climes, people are guided by ideology and principles in making political decisions and choices,” he remarked.
The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) is the oldest Christian ecumenical body in Nigeria, established in 1929.
It is made up of the Anglican Church, the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, the Methodist Church of Nigeria, the Nigerian Baptist Convention, the African Church, the Salvation Army, the United Evangelical Church, the Lutheran Church, Church of the Lord Worldwide, the First African Church Mission, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the Student Christian Movement.