CAN And The Southern Kaduna Killings

January 8, 2017, has
been fixed for national mourning and prayers over the rebirth of genocide in Southern Kaduna. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) recently, released a press statement by its National President, Rev. Samson Olusapo Ayokunle, urging Christians all over the country to prepare for a national mourning day.
Certainly, one cannot but participate in this clarion call, as current statistics across several media platforms indicate that more than 808 people, assumed to be Christians, have lost their lives as streets are now littered with blood; several houses are burnt and businesses shut down.
Yet, not only has President Muhammadu Buhari remained silent over this issue, the curfew imposed by Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the current state governor, has not yielded any positive results.
The president seems to be more concerned with what happens in other African countries like Gambia than in his own motherland. Although his silence should not be wrongly interpreted along lines of political and religious affiliation, institutions and Non­Governmental Organisations, NGOs, should all rise to question the unconcerned disposition of the present administration towards the rebirth of genocide in Southern Kaduna.
One thing is sure, this spiral of silence would surely deepen our historical conception about the prevailing religious and socio­economic disparity facing our country, a country that has held out so much promises of brotherhood and social cohesion since the inception of her political reformations
The concern of CAN must be taken seriously by all. After all, NGOs operating across the country have not lived up to their creed, and the -defensive voices of our human rights activists seem to be waxing very low. One would have expected swift response from several institutions, individuals and corporate bodies. But for the media and press men, not much noise is made about it. Sure as the fourth estate of the realm, the media must align its agenda-setting role towards the Southern Kaduna killings, either as a measure to curtail the rate of killing or as a means of raising public concern.
Whatever the current move, it is a step in the right direction. It would not only attract sympathy from both local and international communities, but also stimulate positive reaction from a dormant system. It is not aimed at inciting protest against any institutions. Rather, the measure is designed to raise public concern as well as to seek supernatural intervention towards ending the war against religious intolerance rocking our history.
But the body must demonstrate a clear sense of responsibility towards its members; or shouldn’t it rather be proactive in combating this dawn of anarchy and inhuman treatment through spiritual means? Though such mourning day has not been aired for decades.
Now that CAN has awoken from an ageless slumbering and has fixed this Sunday for national mourning, efforts must be drawn from several quarters to ensure the collective success of this initiative. Church founders, pastors, evangelists, prophets as well as their entire congregation must rise to this clarion call.
In order to re- kindle our collective sense of sympathy, hospitality and philanthropy towards our loved ones in Southern Kaduna, denominational differences must be ruled out. Our views on this should not be driven by religious sentiment, church loyalty or party affiliation.
We must come together on the table of brotherhood if we must succeed in the current war against “state religion”.
James is a freelancer in Port Harcourt

John James