Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has warned the Federal Government against alleged detention of Apostle Johnson Suleiman of Omega Fire Ministry.
Suleiman is expected to honour an invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS),
The governor further alleged that, a plan is afoot, by the DSS, to invite and detain General Overseer of the Winner’s Chapel Ministry, Bishop David Oyedepo, on Wednesday.
Fayose, who warned that such plan would further plunge the nation into religious crisis said: “Pastor Oyedepo, if and when invited, is to be charged on Friday; and if bail is not perfected, will spend the weekend in Kuje Prisons. This plan is to humiliate these men of God, as well as silence them and create fear in other people.
“No herdsman or masterminds of the Kaduna killings has been brought to justice till date. We advise government and the DSS not to go ahead with the plan as it will heat up the polity and give an impression that Nigeria is being ruled by a dictator under a police state.
“The federal government should pay attention to the economy and revamp it to save Nigerians from hunger. The number of people killed under this government in 18 months is more than what it has been put together since independence,” he said.
Meanwhile, a source in the Presidency has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to condemn Suleiman’s inciting comments on Fulani herdsmen.
The presidency source, who declined to be named, assured that the federal government has been sending reinforcements to Southern Kaduna, to halt killings in that area and that government will enforce the law against perpetrators of violence.
Responding specifically on Suleiman’s call to kill Fulani’s herdsmen, the presidency source said all religious leaders, be they Christian, Islamic or Traditional, should condemn the call and bring the pastor to order.
“Yes, we understand the emotional reactions arising from a breakout of violence and day-in day-out the government is dealing with the situation.
“Perpetrators of violence are being arrested and we don’t need a religious leader calling for more violence.
“The said pastor had said ‘any Fulani herdsman you see around you, kill him. I have told them in the church here, that, any fulani herdsman that just entered by mistake, kill him, kill Him. Cut his head. If they are busy killing christians over there and nothing is happening, we will kill them and nothing will happen.’”
The official asked rhetorically: “Is CAN aware of this kind of statement. Is it in line with Christian conduct? Why haven’t there been a condemnation of this kind of criminal conduct?
“There is some understandable outrage about cases of violence in Southern Kaduna, yet, this, coming from a religious leader is certainly, even more outrageous.”
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has described invitation of Suleiman, by the DSS, over his alleged hate speech as an act of hypocrisy.
A statement by IPOB spokespersons, Mr. Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, said the invitation came after Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, called for his arrest.
“If there are people that should be invited by the DSS with a view to questioning and detention for hate speeches, they are Zahra Buhari-Indimi, Sultan of Sokoto (Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III) and Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai. Doing otherwise is pure hypocrisy,” the statement added.
The group alleged that in 2016, the Sultan ordered Muslims in Nigeria to fight anyone trying to stop them from practising Islam without giving details of what he meant by “trying to stop them.
“In a tweet in 2012, el-Rufai stated as follows: ‘We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not, that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes.
“We further remind the world that the public relations officer of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Mr. Yakubu Kuzamani, accused el-Rufai of engaging in hate speech when he spoke on an Aljazeera Television programme, on Tuesday, January 17, 2017.
“In all these examples, the common thread is hate speech and incitement of Muslims against non-Muslims.
“But, in all the three, none has been invited by the DSS.
“Then, why is Apostle Suleiman being singled out for investigation by the DSS? Why did the SSS not invite Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto, for his hateful and inciting speech?
“Why has the DSS not invited el-Rufai for his hate speech which was even announced by SOKAPU?” IPOB queried.
The group said it was appalled that the National Assembly has not called the DSS to order.
“The indifference by the National Assembly is a key reason why Africa, in general, and the black race, in particular, are underdeveloped and filled with dictators and life-presidents…”
Post a Comment