Arrest Islamic Clerics threatening war in Taraba – CAN
Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
Taraba State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, has called for immediate arrest of Islamic Clerics outside the shores of Taraba State who are threatening religious war and establishment of a Sharia Islamic Government in Taraba State through viral video clips.
The call is coming in a Press Release signed and issued to journalists in the state by the chairman of the Taraba State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Isaiah Magaji Jirapye, Monday.
According to the Press Release, the association viewed the messages of the Islamic Clerics in the various videos as a calculated plot to instigate religious unrest in the state.
Recalled that in the recent time, video clips in which some Islamic Clerics have criticized the PDP led administration in Taraba State and the recent APC governorship primaries in the state in which, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha was announced the flag bearer had gone viral.
The Clerics in the videos, accused the Taraba State Government of melting different forms of injustice on the Muslims faithfuls in the state, including marginalization and insensitivity of the government over their numerical strength in the state.
However, in the Press Release, the Taraba State Chapter of CAN observed with dismay why a purely political party affairs and activities could be given a religious coloration to draw such hateful utterances capable of destabilizing the entire nation.
The release stated that Taraba state has a long-standing history of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence amongst Christians and Muslims even in politics and CAN cannot accept anyone by whatever disguise who is out to threaten and instigate crisis that will destroy the state as it is done successfully in other parts of the country.
The release maintained that Taraba State since inception has been governed by a Christian while the Muslims have always enjoyed the slot of Deputy Governor since 1999.
Part of the release reads .”The messages of these clerics stand condemnable by all reasonable individuals. Government has the responsibility to arrest these clerics, especially Sheikh Ibrahim Aliyu Kaduna, and several others, who has openly threatened to create crisis in Taraba State.
“Anything short of this will be viewed by Christians in Taraba State, and indeed Nigeria as a whole, as government approval of these subversive propaganda. Our tolerance has been the reason we are still exempted from the religious carnage ongoing in some states. We urge the APC to settle their party issues without bringing religion into it.
“CAN Taraba State calls on intelligence agencies and the Federal government to expedite action and apprehend and prosecute the individuals on the videos before they throw Taraba state and indeed Nigeria into avoidable bloodshed.
“Clerics ought to preach peace, love and tolerance, not hateful sermons and promotion of religious politics.
“It is uncharitable and unacceptable to threaten the peace of a State with violence under the misleading impression that your religious faithfuls are not given the opportunity to rule the State.
“We wish to state clearly that henceforth, we will hold authors of those videos making rounds responsible for any harm on Christian Candidates contesting in various political parties in the state.
“”One would have expected that the religious bigots dishing out those inciting videos should have also condemned Niger and Kaduna States for discontinuing the policy of making Christians Deputy Governor”. The release stated.
