The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, Bishop Naga Williams Mohammed, who also happens to be the Secretary of Northern Bishops Incorporated spoke about how Borno state, once a Boko Haram stronghold, has been for Christians and how successive governments have handled the issue of insurgency.

In an Interview with the Daily Trust, the Bishop spoke on how Governor Shettima treated Christians, saying he was the fairest Governor they’d ever experienced. You can read excerpts below.


Daily Trust: It is rather surprising to see that your surname is ‘Mohammed’. How did that happen?

Naga Mohammed: In Southern Borno generally, it is common to see a family mixed with both Muslims and Christians. My father was a Muslim and my mother was a dedicated Christian. We were living in the same house, eating the same food and sharing the same culture. When it is Christmas, my mum would give money to my dad to buy whatever animal for us to slaughter. The same thing when it was time for Sallah, he would buy a ram for us to slaughter.



DT: As a Bishop, some persons would probably expect you to have dropped the ‘Mohammed’ in your surname…

NM: Someone cannot replace either of his biological parents. Mohammed is my father’s name, he was a Muslim and I cannot replace or change my father, and I am his son.

DT: You talked about religious harmony in your family. How does that experience compare with instances of intolerance all over Nigeria?

NM: In the past, there was absolute tolerance to the extent that you don’t care what the next man’s faith is. In fact, in my mum’s house, she had a kettle which is called ‘Buta’ in Hausa. Muslims use it in performing ablution. While growing up, I was raised to see Muslims from a positive light. All I knew was that Muslims were doing what they were supposed to do, and we Christians were doing what we were supposed to do in terms of worship and coexistence in our communities.



In Southern Borno where most of the Christians in Borno State hail from, most of our families are comprised of Muslims and Christians. I used to know of a family where the father and his six children were Christians, while his three wives were Muslims. And they lived peacefully.

DT: Christians make up a sizeable part of the population in Borno State, but they still constitute a minority. How have state governments been responding to challenges of insurgency faced by Christians in the state?

NM: If you go back to fairly recent history, our first major problem was in February 2006, when a Danish man whom I learnt was not even a Christian, drew a caricature of Prophet Muhammad. Unfortunately, there was protest here in Maiduguri and Christians received the repercussions. A total of 56 churches were razed down in Borno, and many shops belonging to Christians were destroyed. What struck me most is that there was no compensation from the then government.

Except promises made by then Governor Ali Modu Sheriff. He promised to compensate for all those properties destroyed but to no avail. I was among the Administrative Committee as representative of the Christian community constituted by the then governor. I think only N150,000 was given to each pastor whose entire church was destroyed. At a point, we compiled all the destroyed properties including churches and submitted the report to the state government.

But thank God, in the history of Borno State, there is no governor who has been fair to the Christian community in this State as much as Governor Kashim Shettima. I am saying this in the presence of God Almighty and this is nothing but the truth. I am speaking boldly without fear or favour because as CAN Chairman I do not receive salary or kobo from government or any institution, but the facts need to be told.

For example, when Gwoza people were driven from their ancestral homes, they fled to Maiduguri, and Shettima personally came to CAN Centre in Jerusalem Ward twice. He gave N10 million for their upkeep at first instance, by then the victims were not many. By the end of October 2014, the IDPs from Gwoza increased to 42,000 in that camp alone. He came again and gave another N10 million. He also gave additional N5 million for Christians from Borno who fled to Cameroon to be returned home. He gave another N5 million for non-indigenes who fled to Cameron to come back to Nigeria. He even directed the Borno State Emergency Management Agency to be supplying food directly to the IDPs under the Christian leadership.

DT: Earlier, you said Governor Ali Modu Sheriff didn’t pay any compensation to Christians after the 2006 crisis. Churches and Mosques were destroyed by Boko Haram from 2011 to date under Governor Kashim Shettima. Have any of these churches been rebuilt?

NM: We had a meeting with Governor Shettima on how his administration can come in to assist in rebuilding some of these churches. Last year when he visited Gwoza, Askira-Uba and Chibok Local Government areas for on-the-spot assessment post-destruction. He saw how some of these churches were burnt down to ashes. Some churches were not only razed down, but pulled down completely as if they never existed.

During Shettima’s visit to these areas, he released N100 million for the rebuilding of some of these churches. A committee was set up for that purpose, I am a member of the committee headed by a permanent secretary, Mr. Justus Zare as Chairman, and I am happy to inform you that presently we have used that money to rebuild 11 key churches which our people are now using. I am surprised to hear some people saying why don’t we rebuild all the churches. We cannot do that because there are many places that are still unsafe.

You cannot expect us to go to the Christian communities on the fringes of Sambisa Forest to start rebuilding their destroyed churches.

After the initial N100m, Shettima graciously approved another N105 million for the second phase of rebuilding destroyed churches. This was made possible when CAN officials led by my humble self had a meeting with him on Thursday March 30, 2017 at the Government House. So far, the governor has released N210 million for reconstruction of our burnt churches. He also approved the sponsorship of all our local pastors to participate in the 2017 Jerusalem Pilgrimage.

Shettima’s government has given us the opportunity to run a collective programme on television and radio. We work with the Jama’atul Nasril Islam to sensitize our people on peaceful coexistence. They trust us, we trust them. In fact, it may interest you to know that there was a time I was asked to lead in a Christian prayer at a gathering where we were only three Christians in the midst of many Muslims. This government is bringing harmony between religious leaders through fairness

http://www.herald.ng/shettima-released-n210m-rebuild-churches-borno-can/#WrWwfS7cJ75QRFef.99

I thought bokoharam killed all the Christians in bornu state.

What is the motive of the post, shebi he left office many years ago, if at all his the fairest back them. What does the article deserve promotion and attention now��‍♂️. Somebody is taking bribe somewhere

The truth will always come out. They think they can deceive us with their religious bigotry and propaganda of hate.
To us in the west, we are first yorubas before christians or muslims that's why we don't fight religious wars .
In Asiwaju and Shettima we two good heads , children of hate can continue to labour.

lol how much are they paying nairaland mods , anything just to justify Muslim-muslim. ticket. , it's wrong anyhow they wan turn am

............................Anybody wey fall for this scam no suppose dy useful for this life again....

Shettima is the incoming vice president.

Pained Ipob lunatics should hit their head against the wall.

As if they would have voted Tinubu if he had pick a Christian.

Nonsense

Tinubu: You will labor to death.

Peter Obi: There is dignity in labor, if you show us hate, we will shower you with love.

If you’re looking for a unifier, Peter Obi is the one, it’s obvious in his words and actions.

I hope the Bornu CAN chairman will not come and angrily reject this statement and deny he never said any of this things being attributed to him by APC cos we all know APC and liarliar lai Mohammed are like 5 and 6.

Those people they paid to launder the image of APC and market the Muslim-Muslim ticket have started their work

They are very crafty and skillful at their work, but guard your heart against deceit

APC neglected the whole northern Christians, calling them insignificant just to fly a divisive ticket

No Nigerian is more Nigerian than the other

Ok

Well good for him,good for you and good for those he gave #100M
May God bless him
But still No to Muslim-Muslim tickets
Na pure madness be that,2 people that will be quick to see you as infidels when matter sup.

I thought they already rewarded Shettima with governorships post for creating Boko Haram. Why is APC still trying to reward him with vice president post. Is the creation of Boko Haram that big a deal to APC?

Pls and pls, I don't want to hear justice for Sarah, justice for jumoke . Shettima should hold his money cos nobody is gonna fall for it

Nor be MuhamMAD pipu destroyed it b4

Even if Tinubu was gonna go for a northern muslim... him no see better person for north?

Too much money!

mastersplanet:
What is the motive of the post, shebi he left office many years ago, if at all his the fairest back them. What does the article deserve promotion and attention now��‍♂️. Somebody is taking bribe somewhere

simple and short!

No Be Small Thing

This Is 2017 Thread And Is Hitting The Front Page in July 2022

The entire country money in one man account

Damage control

Many people don't like this news.

Instead, they want something that would demonize him.

Kashim Shettima as a governor appointed Nigerians from all parts of the country in his cabinet.

1. Isa Gusau, SA, Media & Strategy (Zamfara)

2. Kester Ogualili, SA, inter community relations (Anambra)

3. Usman Majidadi Kumo, SSA, Radio (Gombe)

4. Christopher Godwin Akaba
SSA, Special Duties (Delta)

5. Ahmed Ishaq Ningi SSA, New Media (Bauchi)

6. Lanre Obadiah, SA, Social Investment (Kwara)

7. Victor Izekor, SA, Social investment (Abia)

8. Jack Vicent, SSA, Social investment ((Benue)

A truly detribalized Nigerian


Peter Obi and Ibos should just mention one non-igbo that has serve in any reasonable capity in the east. Obi even targeted Enugu and Ebonyi people in the civil service and demoted them. That is the bigot you want us Hausas to vote?

Another taqqiya. Same churches destroyed by his BH terrorist foot soldiers? Abi it is not what the likes of El Rufai, Buhari are also doing?

Also Remember too, That One of His Boko Haram Boy Bombed St Francis Catholic in Abuja

Shettima Tried Very Well in Bornu State
He Reorganized And Restructured Boko Haram , He Ignored Intelligence Warning Before Chibok Girls Were Kidnapped .
He also Lodged a Wanted High Profile Boko Haram Terrorist in Bornu Government Louge , Kabiru Sokoto

Lol. Why are they trying so hard to force this ticket down our throats