Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI
Spiritual and Evangelical Church, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos has taken it
hard on men of God across the country over their seeming silence as
Christians are reportedly facing persecution in the country.
Primate Ayodele, according to Daily Post,
specifically mentioned the Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith
Church, and William Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Ministry of keeping quiet
while Christians are facing tough times in the country.
“They slit the throat of a woman
preaching in Abuja; they beheaded a 74-year-old woman in Kano; they
nearly killed another poor carpenter for not observing fast; they
attacked a church in the Niger for holding a service on Friday, and so
on.
“Nigeria is getting to the edge; no more tolerance and we are moving on as if all is well.
“Last week, the Appeal Court ruled that
hijab can be worn to schools. The Sultan came out and told Muslims that
‘if anybody does not want you to practise Islam, you can fight.
“The fact that nobody has come out to say the Sultan did not say that means he was quoted correctly.
“Yet, I have not heard reactions from those who ought to have spoken. I am not scared of anybody, I will call names.
“People like (Enoch) Adeboye, (David)
Oyedepo, (Folorunsho) Kumuyi, and other Big Pastors that people believe
so much are holier than thou have kept quiet,” he told Daily Post.
“Imagine what is happening in Osun State. The government said female Muslims students can wear hijab to school.
“Somebody came out to say, ‘okay,
Christians too should wear white garment to school’. The governor
criticised him and so-called Christian leaders came out to say the
governor is right.
“Also, this man in Kaduna, (Nasir) El-Rufai says you must have license to preach or do public religious activities.
“Only one man has been shouting…Apostle
Suleman. He has been the lone voice fighting against the government’s
pronouncement. Other influential Pastors have not uttered a word.
“Nobody is ready to bell the cat. May be they are thinking that they will lose rich members or their connections in power.
“Christians are being killed. People who
should be talking are just there looking. If these killings lead to
religious war, nobody will stay. This country is playing with disaster,”
he added.
He said further, “Even though I am still
watching him, the new CAN president must take steps to put the plight
of Christians at the fore-front.
“We must harmonize in this country. There must be equity and balance. We must respect each other’s religion.
“A man like me is tolerant. I have Muslims who come to my church that I assist. We should stop all these signs of extremism.
“There is an inter-religious boy in
place. We should do more to ensure peace exists because that is the only
way Nigeria can fully attain its potential.”
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