Ailing President Muhammadu Buhari, tucked away somewhere in a London clinic, has again been accused of taking calculated steps to islamize the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The latest accusation came from the President of the Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, who on Sunday expressed outrage at the removal of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) as a subject of study from the secondary school curriculum. He described it as a move by Mr. Buhari to Islamise Nigeria.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had also in a recent visit to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja condemned the development. A delegation led by its President, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, had also made some demands on the matter and other issues in a letter the Christian group delivered to Osinbajo.
Apostle Suleman, in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, spokesman of his church, said the decision to remove CRK as a subject in the curriculum, now to be studied as a theme in civic education while leaving Islamic/Arabic studies as a subject to be studied in the secondary school curriculum, is a calculated plot by the Buhari administration, among other schemes, to wipe out Christianity or at worst make it insignificant in Nigeria.
“The new curriculum which is the brain-child of the Nigerian Educational Research Council and which is mischievously crafted to force Islamic Studies down the throat of non adherents is unjust, discriminatory, a subtle attempt at islamization, and therefore unacceptable,” the statement said.
Apostle Suleman regretted that the “evil” policy has been introduced at a time when Fulani herdsmen are on rampage in parts of the country and just before so called Arewa youths gave Igbo people living in the North to quit before October 1.
“Over 7000 people have been killed by these Fulani herdsmen with our security forces unable to stop the bloodshed. So called Arewa youths backed by some discredited elders have also issued a treasonable ultimatum to Igbo people without any reprisals from the Buhari government. So, is it a coincidence that Christian Religious Knowledge has been expunged from the school curriculum?” he asked.
“This evil policy must be reversed immediately. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Christain Religious Knowledge (CRK) must be restored to the school curriculum. And I’m happy that the CAN has taken up the battle to ensure that those who seek to banish our faith do not succeed. We will continue to speak out until satan and his agents are put to shame.”
On the menace of Fulani herdsmen and those giving ultimatum to people from an ethnic group to vacate the north, he said, “For long, Fulani herdsmen continue to kill, rape and burn people’s homes without restraint. In the event that the safety of an ethnic group cannot be guaranteed in any part of the country, then Nigerians should know that it is not a coincidence. And my God shall not fold arms while the devil and his children seek to destroy the destiny of Nigeria.”
He made it clear that Nigeria belongs to all and not to a few bigots who currently occupy positions of authority.
“We have the strength of character, the courage and the conviction to mount a sustained campaign in defence of justice, and in defence of our religion. We will not give up our religious practice because of someone else’. Nigeria belongs to us all and not for a few bigots who currently occupy positions of authority.” Suleman added.
The divisive polices of the Buhari government and lopsided appointments are widely believed to be responsible for the historic disunity and tension in the country at the moment.
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