CAN, MBF Agree With US On Religious Rights Violation

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Tuesday, expressed worry over the blacklisting of Nigeria by the United States for religious freedom violations.

Eko Hot Blog reported that the Nigerian government had denied condoning or engaging in any form of religious persecution.

Special Assistant, Media, and Communications, to the CAN President, Adebayo Oladeji, who said this, also warned that it might attract sanctions.

“The leadership of CAN is not happy that the US has placed Nigeria on a religious freedom blacklist because of the implications which include possible sanctions if it does not improve its record.

“But at the same time, we are encouraged that the global world is aware of what is happening in the country. Although there is religious freedom in the country, there are a lot of religious persecutions in most of the states of the federation, especially in the Northern part of the country.

“For example, many States like Kano and Jigawa are denying Christians the Certificate of Occupancy, churches are not allowed to purchase lands and they have to be going through individuals to buy lands and even if that is done, they will be denied of the  CofO,” he said.

Oladeji labelled the “discriminatory policies” as religious persecutions, adding that mosques were built wherever they desire with no government daring to ask for any document.

Read also: US Blacklists Nigeria For Religious Freedom Violations

“In Education, Christians are not allowed to study courses like Medicine and Law in some universities in the North. Most of the federal owned universities in the North, will not allow Christians to become the Vice-Chancellor even if they are qualified.

“A good example is University of Ilorin where in the last 25 years or more, no Christian has been allowed to be its Vice-Chancellor.

“About 95 percent of those who head our security agencies are sharing same faith with the President. In some agencies, Christians are replaced with Muslims. This is what we witness every day.

“The country belongs to every citizen irrespective of their religious affiliations but the government is not interested,” he added.

Similarly, the Middle Belt Forum applauded the US for the move, saying that the decision was long overdue.

The National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Bitrus Porgu had said that the US would not take such a critical decision without a valid intelligence report.

Also, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union on Tuesday said the blacklist by the US was too liberal.

The National Public Relations Officer of SOKAPU, Luka Binniyat, who spoke with our correspondents, said, “Southern Kaduna, which is predominantly Christan, would have welcomed outright sanctions slammed against individuals in the Buhari government that have become notorious in their intolerance, hate and justification of violence against Christians communities in Nigeria.”