Church leaders advise FG to dialogue with Boko Haram

The Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), one of the five affiliates of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday in Ilorin called on the federal government to commence discussion with the Boko Haram sect, saying the fire brigade approach to the issue was capable of causing more damage.

The first vice chairman of the association, Joseph Otubu, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the third quarterly meeting of the National Executives Council (NEC) of the group, held at the C&S Church Movement, said “the country may be shocked to know the grievances of members of the sect during such dialogue.” “One of the things we need to understand is that this is a group of people that are killing when the religion they practice does not allow for killing,” he said. “So, they must have some reasons for doing some of these things. It does no harm to dialogue with them. You remember how dialogue with the Niger-Delta militants brought peace in Nigeria. I don’t see us losing anything finding out from them why they are doing what they are doing. It costs very little to make peace, but expensive to be in crisis and war. With dialogue, it may just be the end of it all and we believe that in no time, all this will pass away.” The cleric also added that the OAIC subscribes to and supports the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) effort to midwife peace and to continue to serve as forum for other religious councils in the country to dialogue on religious matters, adding that NIREC provides a veritable platform to dialogue.

Mr Otubu, who talked on the theme of the meeting, ‘And They Cried Unto the Lord, Act 4:24’, said the discussion was informed by the level of insecurity in the country.

He urged Christians to turn and cry to the Lord so that peace could reign among Christians and Muslims in all parts of the country.

“The meeting deliberated on lives of Christians in the northern part of the country, and resolved that they should ask for boldness from God to enable them continue to preach the gospel despite circumstances they found themselves,” he said.

Preach unity

Speaking on the issue of non-interest banking in the country, Mr Otubu called on Nigerian religious leaders to sit down and discuss the issue for better understanding, rather than debating the matter in the media.

He said the two main religions in the country preach the same doctrines and therefore called on religious leaders to always preach the truth according to the holy books.