The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has accused the United States government of stoking ethnic and religious divisions in Nigeria, after the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, visited the Sultan of Sokoto and northern governors.
The group said Christians were excluded from Mr. Kerry’s visit between Monday and Tuesday.
Mr. Kerry travelled to Sokoto where he met the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, who is the head of Nigeria’s Muslim community. He later met President Muhammadu Buhari, before meeting governors of northern states.
In an interview with journalists on Thursday, CAN said Mr. Kerry’s visit was “discriminatory, personal and divisive”.
The group said Mr. Kerry should stop interfering in the internal affairs of the country, alleging that the visit was aimed at furthering the federal government’s plan to continue to persecute the teeming population of Nigerian Christians.
The president of CAN, Rev. Supo Ayokunle, said Mr. Kerry’s “lack of respect for the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria, amounted to favouring northern Nigeria and Muslims to the detriment of the Christian community”.
He said the disposition of the Secretary of States supported claims that the Barack Obama administration openly supported the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2016 general elections, which produced the current leadership of the country.
“Why did he meet with 19 states governors, without southern governors, is Nigeria the north alone, why did you go to the north alone?” he asked.
“There’s a siege on Christians. Kerry, his actions speak volume, his actions, body language were very divisive.


“If US Secretary of States is coming for official visit, it’s understandable, but we demand explanation why he was selective. Has the sultan palace become another state house? Was Kerry invited by the Sultan?
“We have 36 States in Nigeria; he only selected northern governors to meet with them. It was a visit to the north, not to Nigeria. It was surely a very divisive visit. With the visit to the north, Kerry’s visit has heightened fear and tension among Christians in Nigeria, if they cannot bring us together, they should not interfere in our affairs.”
Speaking against the killing of Christians in northern Nigeria, the CAN president said based “on the government’s selective persecution of Christians mostly by the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Nigerian Police, it was obvious the administration was anti-Christians”.
“Have the DSS arrested the Muslim youths who burnt down a Catholic Church in Niger State because they were worshiping on Friday? What happened to the ECWA Pastor who was killed in his farm in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State? What have happened with Redeemed Preacher who was murdered in Kubwa, Abuja?
“Look at the recent case in Zamfara State, Christians where burnt alive. What has happened? They will tell you, they are still investigating. Have they been arrested and charged them to court? If the government cannot sit up and protect Christians, tolerance is going to break down, they should do the right thing, they should not provoke Christians. Have we ever seen this government bring anybody to book?”
The CAN president tasked President Buhari “to come out clean”, adding that, “a government that doesn’t listen is not for the people.”
The CAN leader called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to as a matter of urgency intervene in the case of Joe Chinakwe who was arrested for naming his dog “Buhari”. He argued that, naming an animal with somebody’s name is never a criminal offence.
“The NBA should take up that case and ascertain whether the man has the right to give any name to a dog. They should come and protect the man’s human rights and set the record why the case is not a criminal offence,” Mr. Ayokunle said.

globe16:
Did Kerry visit Yoruba muslims? #justasking

naijaking1:
Christian leaders should stop playing the ostrich like GEJ, they should take their complaints directly to the US media. The election is a good time to complain about Kerry, Obama, and Hillary Clinton

Bede2u:

I personally support Trump. Obama may have done well for America but I believe his foreign policies are what gave rise to global terrorism. Under George Bush, it was only localised (mainly al queda and taliban) now we have both plus Isis, al shabab, boko aram, muslim brotherood and a lot more. If a christian group decides to spring somewhere in d South and start fightin buaris's administration based on this very bias visit now people will be wondering.

FriendChoice:
Buhari, Sultan, Northern Governors are trying to Islamize John Kerry. That time wey they go give you USD 10, 000, 000 to purchase arms from South Africa in your private jet have passed.

How do you expect John Kerry to visit you, after you were caught red handed in South Africa illegally buying arms at this era of terrorism. Sorry Kerry don't interact with supplier of arms to terrorist and militant.

globe16:
How to know those that lack capacity to read

FriendChoice:
[s][/s]
How to know when someone is deeply pained by the fact I write.

globe16:

deeply pained when you displayed your level of ignorance by thinking it was the former CAN president that was mentioned.. Makes me wonder if zombies are robots

FriendChoice:


CAN is a body, don't care is this president or that past. None of the members condemn the criminality of what he has done, including you. So CAN is CAN

globe16:

Accept you are wrong and stop ranting foolishly.. Ok CAN is criminal, what of the Emirs and Muslim Leaders that are now making billions from their Gardens without any work or investments as stated by Emir Sanusi, thanks to Buhari's islamic policies... That one is legitimate abi? Take this

YorubaFynest:
I expect Africans to praise anything albino.

Kerry or whatever the Bleep he calls himself needs to focus on the USA and its current racism crisis.



Philippine President Duterte Blasts U.S. on Syria and Police Shootings, Threatens to Leave U.N.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/philippine-president-duterte-blasts-u-s-syria-police-shootings-threatens-n635511?cid=sm_fb

FriendChoice:


If Philippines president threaten to leave UN And So, how does that concern us. How can we take paracetamol for someone headache. Anyone who will help Nigeria overcome internal security is welcome. So far U.S.A have not disappoint us in that regard. They help train our soldiers and we commend them.

Bede2u:
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has accused the United States government of stoking ethnic and religious divisions in Nigeria, after the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, visited the Sultan of Sokoto and northern governors.
The group said Christians were excluded from Mr. Kerry’s visit between Monday and Tuesday.
Mr. Kerry travelled to Sokoto where he met the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, who is the head of Nigeria’s Muslim community. He later met President Muhammadu Buhari, before meeting governors of northern states.
In an interview with journalists on Thursday, CAN said Mr. Kerry’s visit was “discriminatory, personal and divisive”.
The group said Mr. Kerry should stop interfering in the internal affairs of the country, alleging that the visit was aimed at furthering the federal government’s plan to continue to persecute the teeming population of Nigerian Christians.
The president of CAN, Rev. Supo Ayokunle, said Mr. Kerry’s “lack of respect for the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria, amounted to favouring northern Nigeria and Muslims to the detriment of the Christian community”.
He said the disposition of the Secretary of States supported claims that the Barack Obama administration openly supported the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2016 general elections, which produced the current leadership of the country.
“Why did he meet with 19 states governors, without southern governors, is Nigeria the north alone, why did you go to the north alone?” he asked.
“There’s a siege on Christians. Kerry, his actions speak volume, his actions, body language were very divisive.


“If US Secretary of States is coming for official visit, it’s understandable, but we demand explanation why he was selective. Has the sultan palace become another state house? Was Kerry invited by the Sultan?
“We have 36 States in Nigeria; he only selected northern governors to meet with them. It was a visit to the north, not to Nigeria. It was surely a very divisive visit. With the visit to the north, Kerry’s visit has heightened fear and tension among Christians in Nigeria, if they cannot bring us together, they should not interfere in our affairs.”
Speaking against the killing of Christians in northern Nigeria, the CAN president said based “on the government’s selective persecution of Christians mostly by the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Nigerian Police, it was obvious the administration was anti-Christians”.
“Have the DSS arrested the Muslim youths who burnt down a Catholic Church in Niger State because they were worshiping on Friday? What happened to the ECWA Pastor who was killed in his farm in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State? What have happened with Redeemed Preacher who was murdered in Kubwa, Abuja?
“Look at the recent case in Zamfara State, Christians where burnt alive. What has happened? They will tell you, they are still investigating. Have they been arrested and charged them to court? If the government cannot sit up and protect Christians, tolerance is going to break down, they should do the right thing, they should not provoke Christians. Have we ever seen this government bring anybody to book?”
The CAN president tasked President Buhari “to come out clean”, adding that, “a government that doesn’t listen is not for the people.”
The CAN leader called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to as a matter of urgency intervene in the case of Joe Chinakwe who was arrested for naming his dog “Buhari”. He argued that, naming an animal with somebody’s name is never a criminal offence.
“The NBA should take up that case and ascertain whether the man has the right to give any name to a dog. They should come and protect the man’s human rights and set the record why the case is not a criminal offence,” Mr. Ayokunle said.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/209325-can-fumes-john-kerrys-meeting-sultan-northern-governors-accuses-u-s-bias.html

Bede2u:
I think the CAN leader has a point. The foremost Ambassador of U.S in the world should be seen to be fair. If Nigeria is a country and if its unity is non-negotiable as people claim, then why visit only the north? Why meet only northern leaders? Why meet only muslim leaders? Why not meet all governors? Why not meet a coallition of christian and muslim leaders? I read before in a history book that Lord Lugard felt 'more comfortable with the leaders of northern Nigerian than with the more suffisticated/learned tribes in the south'. When queen elizaberth came to nigeria in 1958 she only visited the north. With this visit, modern u.s has shown again that this remains there policy as far as nigeria is concerned; to protect northern interests first.

mikolo80:
he has no point. When they keep tellin their followers not to bother with election. The White Man is only interested in who controls the largest number of votes

YorubaFynest:


The white man is only interested in Africa's rich resources.

I'll take CAN seriously the day they start speaking against Fulani herdsmen and Nigger Delta terrorists (and their southeastern slaves).