The Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), Bosun Emmanuel, said the present generation of Christians risk being the last because of the Nigerian government, the killings of Christians and the poor collaboration of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), an umbrella organisation made up of various Christian denominations.
Emmanuel said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari: "is openly pursuing an anti-Christian agenda that has resulted in countless murders of Christians all over the nation and destruction of vulnerable Christian communities".
He said: "Due to the inability of CAN to forge Christians into one indivisible army of the Lord, the Church has been weakened and unable to stand before its enemies. Realistically speaking, Christianity is on the brink of extinction in Nigeria. The ascendancy of Sharia ideology in Nigeria rings the death toll for the Nigerian Church," according to The Eagle Online.
Issuing an appeal to splinter denominations, he called for the Catholic Church to return to the CAN collective and said Nigeria would become 'like Turkey' if the church wasn't careful.
"In 2018, we can say in 25 years from now, we are facing the risk of being the last Christians in Nigeria. Therefore, Christians should be in the frontline of defending democracy in Nigeria. The Church is the bastion of democracy. A divided CAN cannot defend democracy and promote justice, equity, and fairness. Consequently, Sharia will grow stronger. As Sharia grows stronger, democracy will become weaker and the Church will be emasculated out of existence.
Nigeria has seen multiple murders of believers in recent years, particularly in Benue State, by Muslim Fulani herdsmen. Conflicts over land have heightened with churches being specifically targeted.
The NCEF want churches to fight this, and what they see as Buhari's prejudice, together and to organise themselves before the election in 2019.
I am sorry for the Christian Association of Nigeria. They fight for Christians, yet it is Christians who are used to fight CAN. Muslims will NEVER do to NSCIA or Islamic leaders what Christians do to CAN or Christian leaders. I admire the love & unity Muslims have for each other!
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) 21 June 2018
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