smile11s: RELIGIOUS BIGOT, I AM NOT!
BY
HABIB BABA HABU,
CONSUL GENERAL OF NIGERIA, NEW YORK


My attention was drawn to an article written by Mr. Chika Onyeani in his weekly online newspaper "The African Sun Time" of August 14, 2012, on the unfortunate accident of 21st July, 2012, which claimed the lives of five Nigerians and left some wounded. My prayers go to the families of those who lost their loved ones. May the Almighty accept them unto His keeping and grant their families fortitude to bear this irreparable sad loss. May God also quicken the recovery of the wounded ones and provide their families succor.


I wish to place on record the fact that Mr. Onyeani tried to contact me while I was attending the Road Show on Aviation hosted by the Honourable Minister of Aviation. At the end of the Road show, I called him. He pointed out the complaints, for which I told him that I received an invitation letter for the church service of Friday, 10th August, 2012. I told Mr. Onyeani that since it was a church service, I wouldn't know what to do during the service as a Muslim. I have never attended a church service. However, I sent one of the most senior staff of the Consulate General, who incidentally, is an Igbo man and a Catholic, to represent me and the Consulate General.


I wish to point out, for the avoidance of doubt, that since my arrival in New York, I have had the pleasure of attending meetings, dedications, baptismal in churches not only in New York but in other states under the Jurisdiction of the Consulate General. I never ever told Mr. Onyeani that "I can never enter a Church". I have had the pleasure, both in Nigeria and USA, of joing my friends in all their events held in churches. But I have never attended a church service. This statement can be checked with the leadership of the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians, (Organisers of New York Parade) and others whom I have had the pleasure of joining in their events organized in various churches. I have never been, and will never be, a Religious bigot. Anybody that had ever had any direct contact with me will vouch for me on this.


In conclusion, I wish, once again, to state I never ever told Mr. Onyeani that "I can never enter a Church". I am proud of being a Muslim but it has never ever clouded my judgment of other Religions or people of Religion. Like most Nigerians, I was born into a Religion and grew up to love and appreciate it. If I had been born by Christian parents, I would have grown up being a Christian. Almost all Nigerians were born into a Religion which they adhere to and love. I don't think Mr. Onyeani whom I had been treating as an elder brother and adviser would descend to the level of insinuating my being a Religious bigot.

D-Explorer:
At the phase of media hype and cheap traffic, I THINK THIS MAN WAS WRONGLY QUOTED

Ki-Katanga:


No. An ambassador or a consul's job is to act for and as the country. This is a man's bigotry being placed before his responsibility. He is unsuited and should be recalled immediately. If he cannot act with compassion with Christians who've died in a horrible accident, would he be compassionate if they came to him with their problems?

Moreover, there is no teaching in mainstream Islam that prohibits the entering of a church, meaning he is either lying or a radical, either of which is just cause for dismissal.

Goddess12: Why must he go to church? you ibos need to get a life, if he were to be ibo would you have forced him to go to the mosque, you get as much as you give, you want to tell me that a consular must and have been visiting all bereaved families in the US? you are not even nigerians.

2mch:

Dual citizenship for people that hold Nigerian passports by descent, and only for entry into the country. They are truly American and should seek solace from their country. A dual citizen cannot be president. And most of the kids know next to nothing about Nigeria except at these meetings. Where you are born and where you have sworn fealty to is where you should seek allegiance. If their was trouble in Nigeria, will they remember they are Nigerians?

abdulkayus:


hey guy 4get abt dat ish, dis man fuckup big tym. I am a muslim bt wat dis man dis is nt a muslim act, he mess up big tym, its ppl lyk dem dat giv islam bad image. Dont muslim go to church to attend their frnds or relative weddin in church. Dis man is jus a bigot and need to call bac period. Is he representin nigerians or muslim? Dis hausa ppl self, both d educated and d illitrate think alike. Mtwssss

redsun: The animal is a boko haram,representing nigerian terrorist government in new york.
Animal wear agbada..

gboss4sure: Jeez, What has religion got to do with Government?. GEJ should recall and sack that man with immediate effect.

I wish to place on record the fact that Mr. Onyeani tried to contact me while I was attending the Road Show on Aviation hosted by the Honourable Minister of Aviation. At the end of the Road show, I called him. He pointed out the complaints, for which I told him that I received an invitation letter for the church service of Friday, 10th August, 2012. [size=16pt]I told Mr. Onyeani that since it was a church service, I wouldn’t know what to do during the service as a Muslim.[/size] I have never attended a church service. However, I sent one of the most senior staff of the Consulate General, who incidentally, is an Igbo man and a Catholic, to represent me and the Consulate General.

I wish to point out, for the avoidance of doubt, that since my arrival in New York, [size=16pt]I have had the pleasure of attending meetings, dedications, baptismal in churches not only in New York but in other states under the Jurisdiction of the Consulate General.[/size] I never ever told Mr. Onyeani that “I can never enter a Church”. I have had the pleasure, both in Nigeria and USA, of joing my friends in all their events held in churches. But I have never attended a church service. This statement can be checked with the leadership of the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians, (Organisers of New York Parade) and others whom I have had the pleasure of joining in their events organized in various churches. I have never been, and will never be, a Religious bigot. Anybody that had ever had any direct contact with me will vouch for me on this.

2mch: Being of Nigerian descent doesn't make you Nigerian. Most of those people carry American passports. If they are American they shouldn't expect anything from the Nigerian consulate. I didn't even know people even cared about these consulate people enough to invite them anywhere. We Nigerians have to live and let live. Let people be guided by their religious belief, personal belief if they want to, as long as it does not jeopardize the life of others. I understand the issue of sensitivity but does the writer have solid proof that he said this? If he does then that should have been released along with this writeup. Plus Nigerian's are not too known for applying wisdom or diplomacy before they talk.

Goddess12: Why must he go to church? you ibos need to get a life, if he were to be ibo would you have forced him to go to the mosque, you get as much as you give, you want to tell me that a consular must and have been visiting all bereaved families in the US? you are not even nigerians.

9jadelta:


U are a foool of d highest order .so because people are dieing at home we should ignore those that die abroad ? Are u high or some quoran weed or something$?

abdulkayus:


hey guy 4get abt dat ish, dis man fuckup big tym. I am a muslim bt wat dis man dis is nt a muslim act, he mess up big tym, its ppl lyk dem dat giv islam bad image. Dont muslim go to church to attend their frnds or relative weddin in church. Dis man is jus a bigot and need to call bac period. Is he representin nigerians or muslim? Dis hausa ppl self, both d educated and d illitrate think alike. Mtwssss

Goddess12: Why must he go to church? you ibos need to get a life, if he were to be ibo would you have forced him to go to the mosque, you get as much as you give, you want to tell me that a consular must and have been visiting all bereaved families in the US? you are not even nigerians.

redsun: Nigerians are backward because they are religiously indoctrinated. Christianity and islam are agents of darkness in nigeria.

The oyinbos and arabs use them to keep africans in the state of suspended animation. A zombie like and hypnotised state where reasoning has gone with the wind.

abdulkayus:


hmmmm, its now becomin clearer now, its seem d consul general was quoted out of content. Ppl shld be careful wit their speech and dos convenin d message shld always try to be factual.

@Obowunmi: Nigerian christians will say the same thing too sha. Nigeria is divided on all fronts: christian, muslim, igbo, yoruba, hausa, rich, poor....sad and insensitive.

2mch: Let us respect the man's religion. It takes a liberal christian or muslim to do this. If he sent a representative with a personal statement then no harm done.

Goddess12: Why must he go to church? you ibos need to get a life, if he were to be ibo would you have forced him to go to the mosque, you get as much as you give, you want to tell me that a consular must and have been visiting all bereaved families in the US? you are not even nigerians.

9jadelta:

Church is an unholy place to a true Muslim . If u move with real alfas and imams, they will tell u if death meets u in places like shrine or church u are going straight to hell.

9jadelta:

Church is an unholy place to a true Muslim . If u move with real alfas and imams, they will tell u if death meets u in places like shrine or church u are going straight to hell.

9jadelta:

Church is an unholy place to a true Muslim . If u move with real alfas and imams, they will tell u if death meets u in places like shrine or church u are going straight to hell.

2mch: Let us respect the man's religion. It takes a liberal christian or muslim to do this. If he sent a representative with a personal statement then no harm done.

Kagawa: @ai119, That's how quick we Я̩̥̊ to fight ourselves instead of uniting for a common goal. Smh*
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Abu or whteva his name is unfit to hold that post. He ΐƨ callous and stupid, (Seun better don't hide this comment).sometines I wonder if this pple Я̩̥̊ learned at all, why D̶̲̥̅̊o we have the word diplomacy?? I bliv a yoruba or an igbo christian wouldn't have hesitated to reach across to the deceased family if they were muslims.
Evryday these socalled reps kip slipping cocks in us, showing us hw selfish they can be and telling it all to those who can read in between the lines that they want a break-up, I wonder why this country still holds.
I as a catholic hav never been to a mosque b4, but I remember paying a visit to one -Yewa north Central mosque ayetoro for presentation of gifts et al when my batch corps members were abt to passout..Altho I waited till their prayers was over befor I ws ushered in with my team. I was the C.L.O of that Zone, I represented all the over 300 corps members in that zone.. Muslims, Christians, Atheists, Paganists et all. Yet this baga is there feeding on tax payers money, living ayé-foreign and playing the religion card, may Dionsyus wrath befall him. IDIAT.


We know the your kind,getting to do CLO does not make you a saint. Didn't you know how much you took as bribe from these your supposed all encompassing Nigerians? Now you are ready to attack me shey,cos I know nothing about you shey? Same applicable to that consule general. You knew nothing about him,so shut the Bleep up.

timmy1999: Well...I will blame GEJ for all this..how can u send a muslim ambassador to a country dorminated by christians..can he send a christian to saudi arabia as an ambassador...that's why I will forever respect obasanjo...the man that know what is called nigeria...he know yoruba are many in uk..he put yoruba as ambassador there..in USA hew put ibo man...but dis useless GEJ...he put hausa as UK ambassador and even USA..dos dat make any sense...tell me nairalanders