ABUJA—NIGERIAN Christians based in the United States of America, operating under the aegis of the Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans (CANAN) have expressed disgust over the continuous killing of Christians in the northern part of the country.
Consequently, CANAN recently came down hard on the Federal Government for its inability to checkmate the activities of the Boko Haram sect in parts of the country. The group pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan to seek for the intervention and assistance of the US President, Barack Obama to end the menace.
At a joint press conference with the Secretary General of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, in Abuja, CANAN president, Dr. James Fadele gave the advice, while donating the sum of $50,000 (about N8 million) as relief funds.
At the occasion, a former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, broke into tears after listening to Pastor Sarana Chinda of All Saints Protestant Church, Hauran Wanki, Barracks, Kano on how eight members of his congregation were wiped out for refusing to renounce Jesus Christ.
Ezekwesili also heard from a 45-year old Deborah Shetima from Borno State how her husband was slaugthered on April 25, 2012 and their two daughters aged nine and seven were abducted by Boko Haram members with no clue to their whereabouts.
After this sad development, according to her, the sect came back after three month and killed her third son in cold blood.
In an interview, the executive director of CANAN, Laolu Akainde said President Jonathan should be aggressive in fighting the Boko Haram menace, by bringing National Assembly members that were indicted, to face the full weight of the law.
According to him; “I think government including President Jonathan has said on several occasions that the problem is big. We believe that Nigerian government cannot handle this problem.
“Government can become more aggressive in going after members of Boko Haram and those supporting this sect. Government is not proactive. It should seek support from other countries like the US to deal with Boko Haram. This is an international problem,” he stated.
In his remarks, Fadele called on all Nigerians and people of goodwill to “rise up and come to the financial and material aid of victims of Boko Haram attacks in northern Nigeria”.
According to him, Nigerian Christians in America have taken notice of the impact of the actions of Boko Haram terrorist sect, adding “we are concerned about the widows and deeply touched by the plight of the orphans. We reckon that many of these individuals are left without a source of livelihood”.
Continuing he said: “We have heard that CAN is setting up a Relief Fund where Nigerians can donate money and relief materials to support the victims. For instance victims’ children can benefit from scholarships taken out from such a fund. Towards such a fund, CANAN is making an initial widow’s mite contribution of $50,000.
“If backers of terrorists are raising the money to perpetuate acts of terror, supporters of and advocates for peace can no longer look the other way. We join CAN today to call on Nigerian philanthropists, businesses, and captains of industry, well-to-do individuals and all people of goodwill to consider the apparent financial plight of Boko Haram victims and lend a helping hand.
“We commend the bold leadership of CAN for speaking up in a categorical, courageous and consistent manner on the Boko Haram menace,” he stated.
Ezekwesili was of the opinion that Nigeria is fast becoming a country which does not place value on human lives.
Her words: “Whatever happens to one of us happens to everyone of us. So if we have become a nation that does not put value to human lives, then we really are in a bad place. Listening to these women particularly and seeing what these woman have to carry alone, you almost feel a sense of abandonment for them. It is almost like they are invisible to the rest of us and that worries me,” she contended.
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