Northern Christians Demand National Conference
ICC Note
Nigerian Christians are frustrated over the continuous killings by radical Muslims and the lack of protection by the government. Christian leaders are demanding a national conference to determine the future of the country.
By David Attah
07/10/2012 Nigeria (Punch)-Christians in the 19 northern states and Abuja have asked the National Assembly to convene a national conference to determine the future of Nigeria.
The demand followed the killing of Senator Gyang Dantong, the Plateau State House of Assembly Majority Leader, Gyang Fulani, and several persons in Barkin-Ladi near Jos on Sunday.
The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria, said, “It is now time to determine the future of the country so as to allow those who want to live by the sword and bomb to be left alone.”
The body also asked President Goodluck Jonathan to demonstrate enough political will in bringing to an end the activites of terrorists group in the region.
In a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the organisation, Mr. Sunday Oibe, on Monday, the group accused the Special Task Force in Plateau State of complicity in the spate of violence in Kaduna.
The statement read in part, “The President once declared that there are some Boko Haram members in his government; we can now see the manifestation of this, especially in the activities of the Special Task Force in Plateau State, which failed to respond to distress calls during the massacre of community residents of Barkin-Ladi Local government.
“This time around, the President should stop at nothing until he brings the activities of terrorists to an end. We will not accept a situation where only one tribe in Nigeria is trying to bring the entire country to its knee. This is absolutely unacceptable.
“It is activities of some members of this tribe that is undermining the National Youth Service Scheme which seeks to integrate us as a nation. One tribe must not be seen to be loading it over the rest of Nigerians.”
Oibe added, “Nigeria is bigger than any tribe or religion. We must, as a people with conscience, sense of patriotism and sense of justice and fair play resist these mindless, barbaric killings.
“We call on the National Assembly to forget about their personal interest and convoke a national conference to determine whether we should continue to live together. Those people who want to live by the swords and bombs can have their own country and kill themselves.
“Those who want to live in peace and catch up with development that is going on in some other parts of the world can have their country and make progress.
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“We urged the Christians in Plateau state not to lose hope and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of these unprovoked mass killings including the killing of Senator Gyang Dantong and the Majority Leader of the Plateau state House of Assembly, Hon. Gyang Fulani.
“We want to state categorically that we are not accepting the usual condemnation by government which has become a mere slogan. The Government must not just condemn it, it must fish out the perpetrators and sponsors of this wickedness and bring them to justice for the sake of peace and stability.
“We believe that there are some powerful elements who are behind the activities of these so called herds men.
“We want to ask pertinent questions: Has the government of Nigeria legalised possession of arms by unauthorised individuals? If the answer is no, how did the Fulani herds men in the north come to be in possession of sophisticated weapons, including military uniforms and bullet proof vests?
“Who supplied them these weapons and the uniforms? Where were the Special Military Task Force deployed to Plateau state when this massacre was going on? Why did it take them five hours to get to the scene of the incident?
Reports reaching us said the Special Task Force was contacted by 4: am. It was about 9:30 am that the task force went there. Were understood that it was the mobile police that went to the scene of the incident.
“Whose orders is the Special Military Task Force carrying out in Plateau? If the Barakin-Ladi Local Government chairman called the Task Force and they promised they were coming, why did the Task Force fail to go until after they terrorists had finished their operation?
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“We are calling on Christians in Northern Nigeria to fast and pray for three days and the God of heaven will fight for us”.
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