The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has dismissed reported plans to arrest bishops and pastors who are allegedly using their pulpits to incite the people against the federal government.
The council, under the co-chairmanship of the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Dr Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle stated this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
The statement quoted one Bishop Olabode Daniel as alleging that the federal government planned to arrest bishops and pastors who are using their church pulpit to preach against it.
“This misguiding error that is currently trending on social media claimed that: “The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr Boss Gida Mustapha on Friday 27 August 2021 has declared that from September 2021 the Federal Government through the Nigerian Police Force will start arresting bishops and pastors who are using their church pulpit to preach against the Federal Government.
“The write-up claims among other frivolous things that the SGF has indirectly declared war against the Nigerian Pastors,” NIREC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Cornelius Omonokhua, said in the statement.
According to him, what the SGF said at the NIREC meeting in Abuja was “Leaders that are fond of making statements that do not in any way bring succour and comfort to our people but rather further deepening discord ought to be cautioned”.
Omonokhua said that the SGF did not mention anything about bishops or pastors and that the full video clip of his address can be accessed on the NIREC YouTube channel.
“NIREC calls on Nigerians to disregard the propaganda of Bishop Dr Olabode Daniel TLD and work graciously towards the realization of a peaceful nation,” Omonokhua added.
