• Osinbajo
Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Catholic Bishop of Kafachan, Rev. Joseph Bagobiri, yesterday subtly clashed over the belated condemnation of Boko Haram activities by President Muhammadu Buhari.
While the Catholic Bishop insisted that the condemnations would have helped in stemming the tide of the insurgents during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, Osinbajo warned Christian leaders to be mindful of their utterances.
Speaking on the topic, Making Nigeria Function as a Family: Panacea to Healthy National Integration during Independence Anniversary interdenominational Church Service, Bishop Bagobiri did not spare former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida and Muslim leaders in the country. He stated they only opted to condemn activities of Boko Haram when serious damage had already been done.
“I like what the President stated. He stated nobody kills in the name of Islam and says he is a Muslim. Why did Buhari wait till he became president before making the statement? Why did he not make the statement when President Goodluck Jonathan was in power? That statement would have made more sense then than now. Ibrahim Babangida followed and condemned Boko Haram. Why did they all have to wait till Buhari won before condemning activities of Boko Haram?,” he queried.
"The anniversary celebration offers us the opportunity to offer ourselves in service for the continuous growth of our country. We thank God that despite all the apprehensions that followed the last general elections, we did not end up like some countries in the Middle East.
“Nigeria is more than any religion, tribe, political party, ideology or anything. No one should toil with the survival of Nigeria. We need Nigeria first before any other thing we are fighting for. Though prayer is highly important, it is not the only thing we are called to do.
“There are many powerful people whose agenda is to serve parochial interests. People that have been entrusted with public offices use their positions to promote sectional motives. Today, we hear of an invisible government that rules this country. Nigerians must ask what happened to the colossal monies budgeted for our security.
“Those who rule with discrimination will not go far. Why must Supreme Court Justices come from one part of the country? We advise this government to evoke fairness, justice and equity. Why can’t we have Igbo or Yoruba people as Supreme Court Justices?
“Nigerians are smart people. When you genuinely fight corruption, Nigerians know. When you give in to the temptation to use anti-graft agencies as instruments of revenge or vendetta, sooner or later, we will know.
“If you are fighting corruption for the sake of corruption, Nigerians understand it. If we use EFCC, ICPC, CCB and others as instruments of revenge and vendatta, sooner or later we will no be able to get the desired peace.”
In his counter remarks, Osinbajo said: “Muslim and Christian leaders must know something. It is our duty not to pursue wrong narratives. For Christians, it is our duty to ensure that we do not create further divisions in our words. Jesus Christ did not come to establish religion. Men did that.
“I want to speak on what the bishop stated. What divides the Christian church is not the love of Jesus Christ. We must recognize that the first order for the church is unity. That also applies for our nation. Our nation is divided and it has been so for long. It is divided along religious and tribal land. The moment we are divided, nothing works. We must speak about the unity of our country as we speak about the unity of the church.
“The Northeast is where I have traveled to. I have seen the dead, wounded and the sick. These victims are in their hundreds and they were Muslims and Christians. Poverty was one thing that united them. Our major problem in Nigeria is that we play politics with everything. When a bomb goes off in Borno, it does not ask if you are a Christian or a Muslim.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was conspicuously absent at the well-attended anniversary church service. No explanation was given for his absence by other executive members of CAN who participated during the church service. p>While the first reading, taken from II Chronicles 7:1-14, was read by Bagobiri; the second reading was taken from I Corinthians 12: 12-30 and read by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.
Prayers were stated for the Nigerian nation, security and economic challenges, peace and development of the country.
There were also special prayers for the President, Vice President, other executives, legislature and judiciary and for the unity of the church.
Among dignitaries at the service include the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Dogara, and former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.
Wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapa Osinbajo, also attended the event.