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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has informed? President Goodluck Jonathan that the Christian community is fast losing confidence in government’s ability to protect the rights to religious liberties and life of Christians.
The CAN President, Archbishop Ayo Oritsejafor, stated this yesterday when he led a delegation of the Christian community to a meeting with Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
CAN said it was not satisfied with the manner in which religious, traditional, political leaders and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs were responding to the Christmas Day bombing of a Catholic Church in Madalla and other blasts that targeted a church in Jos and the SSS headquarters in Damaturu, Yobe State.
It also threatened that the Christian community nationwide would take the laws into its hands and respond appropriately if there are any further attacks on its members, churches and properties.
Oritsejafor said, “The Christian Community is fast losing confidence in government’s ability to protect our rights to religious liberties and life. The consensus is that the Christian community nationwide would be left with no other option than to respond appropriately if there are any further attacks on our members, churches and properties.
“It is on record that most religious, traditional and political leaders in the North have not come out openly to condemn the extremist activities of Boko Haram. We hold them responsible for what is happening because they have not taken concrete steps to check the excesses of their members.
But Jonathan in his response, pleaded with CAN,? saying that , “The terrorists are human beings, they are not spirits, they live with us, they dine with us. We know them, people know them. As long as Nigerians are committed to expose them, we will get over this ugly situation.
“At the security level, we are doing our best, we will restructure, we will re-adjust and make sure we get a team that will meet with the challenge we are facing today. When in December 2009, a Nigerians was caught in a flight to US, we were all surprised and embarrassed. We thought such people were not living with us, that probably he was contaminated outside.”
Oritsejafor and other CAN leaders also visited St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla yesterday to condole with the community.
Abdulsalami, Etsu Nupe Visit Madalla
Meanwhile, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, have visited St, Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla to condole with the church.
?Abdulsalami and the royal father told Rev. Isaac Achi that they came to commiserate with him over the bomb blast which led to loss of lives and property.
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