A Catholic priest, Reverend Father Gabriel Teruwose Ngbea, has called on the Federal Government to immediately ban the two main umbrella bodies of religious organization in the country, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jamatul Nasrul Islam (JNI).
This was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja at the public presentation of the book he authored, ‘’ “Constitutional Misconception of Secularism: Implications for Politics and Religion.”
Reverend Father Ngbea claimed such step would go a long way to stem the tide of religious crisis instigated in the country.
He proposed the establishment of what he called Religious Equity Commission with a mandate to ensure that there is no discrimination among Nigerians on the basis of their faith.
Father Gabriel said on page 302 of his book that “CAN and JNI should be proscribed because apart from their failed mandate of advancing religious interests that these bodies have constituted themselves into a political organization, often deployed to pursue political interests.”
He further submitted that the proscription of the two organizations would show fidelity to the Constitution which states that the country is a multi-religious State.
“The establishment of an independent Religious Equity Commission whose mandate should be to ensure that there is no discrimination among Nigerians on basis of faith. CAN and JNI should be completely banned in the country.”
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar who was chairman at the occasion restated his position that the present administration should listen to demands of agitators for restructuring.
Atiku who was represented by former Speaker of the Plateau state House of Assembly, George Daika said the government should all be mindful of and sensitive to the feelings and preferences of Nigerians.
“Let me, however, use this opportunity to remind us all that at this delicate moment in our nation’s history – with separatist agitations, militancy of the religious and secular varieties, calls for restructuring, and jostling for future elections, we should all be mindful of and sensitive to the feelings and preferences of those who may not think the way we think, the way we speak or worship, the way we worship or belong to the same political party as us. Our diversity ought to be our strength and, together, we can still build the Nigeria of our dreams.”
The Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, noted that political and religious were great encumbrances to the development of the country.
“Today in our country, two things are very important, politics and religion and if we can get it right, we will be able to make Nigeria great.”
Rev Father Bologo who represented the Archbishop of Abuja archdiocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan said that religion and politics have been taken too far in our country and that this has caused a lot of problems for the country.
“Nigeria should not have been where it is now but because we are using religion to divide the country and to cause disaffection. Nigeria is 90% on the wrong path as far as religion and politics is concerned.”
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