The Senior Pastor of
Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, has decried what he
termed as the highest level of religious intolerance and insecurity in Nigeria.
The fiery cleric said
it was high time Nigerians rose with one voice and say no to the endless
bloodshed, reign of terror and banditry in Nigeria.
Enenche, who spoke on
Tuesday at a press conference organised by Dunamis to mark the second
anniversary of Leah Sharibu in captivity, said the country had drifted into
anarchy, insisting that Christians were being targeted amid the insecurity in
the country.
At the event, which
hosted families of the slain chairman of CAN in Michika Local Government Area
of Adamawa State, Rev. Lawan Andimi, survivors of Boko Haram attack, relatives
of Leah and others, the cleric said many Nigerians were not aware of the depth
of the security challenges in the country, saying that there was high level of
persecution of Christians, especially in the northeast.
While offering to
rehabilitate some of the victims that the church empowered with equipment that
would aid their jobs, Enenche also decried the activities of armed bandits
ravaging the north central and other parts of the country.
According to him, “We
have come to discover that there is a bankruptcy of awareness on the exact
situation of what is going on in Nigeria.
“I am surprised that
there are people in this country who do not believe that terrible situations,
security wise are happening in the nation.
“There is the highest
level of religious intolerance, extreme level of persecution of Christians,
especially in the northern Nigeria, the north east to be precise as well as
situation of armed bandits in north central.
“It is so sad that
some people are watching the evil going on and pretend as if nothing is
happening.
“Insecurity and the
threat to Christianity in Nigeria today are real and must be arrested with
urgency. This status quo must not be allowed to stand.
“All is not well in
the land. But in the name of Jesus, it shall be well. We believe that as this
awareness rises, people take responsibility to say no, instead of keeping
silent in the name of passivity, timidity and allowing the status quo to go.
“There are people in
this country who are silent as if they have gummed their lips. People are
watching evil going on and they say nothing. I want to say that if you are a
businessman, you can only do business if there is a nation. If you are a
pastor, you can only pastor a church if there is a nation. These things cannot
continue anymore,” he said.
Speaking further, the
cleric warned that the judgment of God would come hard on those sponsoring evil
in the land.
“It is time for
everybody to rise and say enough is enough of evil of bloodshed, rule of terror
in the land.
“And to every
collaborator, sponsor and supporter of terror in the land, know that your days
are numbered.
“The silence of good
men is more wicked than evil of wicked people. When good men agree to keep
quiet, evil thrives.”
Also speaking at the
event, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Samson
Ayokunle, decried attacks against Christians across the country, insisting that
the current administration has not done enough to halt the growing insecurity.
Speaking amid tears
from victims, families of victims and sympathisers, who narrated ordeals of
onslaught by Boko Haram and kidnappers, especially in the Northeast, Ayokunle,
who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Caleb Ahima, said: “We call on the
Federal Government today that we are getting to a point of anarchy. It is the
constitutional responsibility of government to protect lives and property of
citizens.”