Northern CAN Statement On GEJ Resignation Is Hand of Esau Voice of Jacob-Former CAN Secretary

Northern CAN Statement On GEJ Resignation Is Hand of Esau Voice of Jacob-Former CAN Secretary

I read the alarming news headlines in various newspapers and especially on Leadership alleging the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states of the federation have expressed disappointment in the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, over his handling of the Boko Haram insurgency ,and also on the front page of NNN where Sheik Gumi is calling on President Goodluck to resign.

Let me quickly state that as a former Secretary  of CAN  kaduna state,and  also a former PRO of CAN 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory and in my personal capacity as Special Adviser to the Kaduna State Governor on Religious Matters that nothing could be further from the truth than these alarming headlines which are calculated to incite Northerners and specially Christians against the Jonathan Administration.

To begin with, let us start with the Latin maxim Cui Bono (who benefits?). Northerners and the Christians populace do not benefit from the careless statement released by Oibe and Gumi.Recent statements by these duo has not only heat up the polity but has create serious friction between followers.

Back to the question of who benefits, I would like to draw the attention of the public to 1 Timothy 6:5 which talks of  "constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain".

Most statements by these two do not represent reasonable minds in the North be they Moslem or Christians, but are always politically motivated and sponsored.

Members of the public should note that for these two to issue their statements on the same day is only a grand strategy to make gullible Nigerians think Christians and Moslem are fighting this Administration, or do they want us to believe it is a  coincidence? Only a fool would believe that. Of recent there has been hyperactivity amongst disgruntled politicians who covet the presidential seat and just then this strange statement comes out. It is the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob.

But be that as it may, may I ask those who have procured this statement where they were when some persons of vile minds were activating terror with words warning of making the country "ungovernable" or of impending "bloodshed" should their political ambitions not be realized?

Northern CAN has no quarrel with the statement from President Jonathan that it would not be the preference of the Federal Government to send in soldiers to wipe out Boko Haram for the simple reason that Boko Haram are faceless and when soldiers are sent in to wipe out a faceless group it is the innocent that suffers.

We would rather the administration focus on an intelligence driven covert operations that would target Boko Haram with precision which is in line with biblical principles which provides in Proverbs 15:22 that "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed".

I note that it was wise counsel and covert intelligence that led to the capture of Abu qaka,Kabiru Sokoto and the killing of Habib Bama and many other

I call on the Federal Government and the Nigerian people to be alert and refuse to be pressured into taking actions that would pit Muslims against Christians which is what would happen if soldiers are sent in to level communities without taking into account that the innocent would be killed with the guilty. We note that when this happens, some of those now setting up such a catastrophe would be the first to condemn the government.

True Christians and Moslem respect every earthly authority because of what the word says in Romans 13:1 which provides that "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God".

What we must do is to provide Godly counsel when we see ungodly actions and we must first make every attempt to do so directly and it is where such attempts have failed that we may do so before witnesses and where that fails it is then that the bible requires us to do so publicly.

Rev Joseph John Hayab
Special Adviser on Religious Matters
Kaduna State Governor.