The conference of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC) has accused the President Muhammad Buhari led government of poor handling of the ravaging killer herdsmen, dapchi and chibok girls saga among other national issues.
Bellow is the full text of the Press Conference held in Kaduna on Monday.
CONGRESS OF NORTHERN NIGERIA CHRISTIANS (CNNC)
PRESS CONFERENCE
Members of the Press, we are glad for your response to cover the maiden edition of CNNC Press Conference. You are welcome.
Permit me to start with a brief introduction of Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC). It is a registered body of all the Christians in the 19 Northern States and the FCT. It was inaugurated on the 11th November, 2017. CNNC is not a political party and is not a front for any political party. However members of the Congress are free to join any political party and contest elections at any level with a full support of the Congress.
CNNC amongst other objectives, seeks to create awareness through advocacy amongst Northern Nigeria Christians and to speak for them over issues that affect their lives and faith.
The main aim of this Press Conference is to state the position of CNNC over some pending issues of National importance.
1. DAPCHI SCHOOL GIRLS
CNNC notes with great concern the abduction of yet another set of School girls. While we rejoice that almost all the girls have been released, we are heavily saddened that our daughter, Miss Leah Sharibu is been held bacause of her faith. The truth is very obvious that the distruction project of Boko Haram is very much tagetted at Christians. CNNC strongly condemns this evil tendency and urges Mr. President to as a matter of urgency intervain for the immediate release of this young girl.
2. HERDSMEN KILLINGS
The herdsmen killings are continuing almost on a daily basis across the Middle Belt region and parts of some Southern States of this Country, using very deadly weapons such as AK47, with a high level of impunity. This noxious issue has created some pertinent concern:
It would appear as if a particular group of people are deliberately targeted for destruction. The consistency with which this occurs raises question in the minds of many objective observers.
Cattle business is a personal one and so owners of those businesses should take the options of ranching, paying for the lands to be used just like people interested in farming buy lands to farm. CNNC abhors the thought of “cattle colonies” as being suggested in some quarters.
CNNC commends and appreciates the recent visits of Mr. President to the affected States in which killings were prevalent. The visit is bound to have a salutary effect on the people who have been devastated by the wanton killings that was visited on them. However the Congress pleads with Mr. President to be practically humane on this matter by what he saw during the short visit and stop this inhuman activities. The sources of the deadly weapons should be checked with the aim of arresting those concerned. The security should confiscate all the weapons and the possessors arrested and persecuted.
3. KIDNAPPINGS AND ADOPTION OF CHRISTIAN CHILDREN
The Northern landscape is replete with the accounts of kidnappings, forceful adoption, conversion and forced marriages of Christian children. The CNNC have seen this ploy as a tactical plan to forcefully change the faith of our children and plunge them and their parents into an untenable situation. Forced conversion and forced marriages have become common place in many parts of the country. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for freedom of worship and this provision must be allowed to prevail and without any molestation from any quarters.
4. BOKO HARAM/ISIS
CNNC is gladdened by the successes that the Nigerian military has achieved against this despicable group. We are however alarmed by the wanton destruction of lives that still characterizes the North-East landscape of the country which is dotted by confusing press releases of how the war has been completely won and the terror group dislodged from their strongholds. CNNC observes and notes Government action of releasing Boko Haram detainees after a period of de-radicalization. The confidence of Nigerians will be enhanced if the process of de-radicalization is made public in order that the public will confidently receive the de-radicalized Boko Haram “graduates” into the Communities of Nigeria.
It is feared that there is the presence of ISIS in the country since Boko Haram swore allegiance to ISIS a few years back. CNNC demands that a status reports be made on this issue to alert the populace accordingly. A clarification will calm the nerves of Nigerians.
5. CHIBOK GIRLS
CNNC appreciates Government efforts at securing the release of some Chibok girls. CNNC demands with a strong voice that all the remaining Chibok girls and other victims be released without delay. It is ironical that the detained terrorists are being released in greater numbers in the name of de-radicalization while their captives are still being held.
Preventive measures should be taken to protect all girls’ boarding schools wherever they may be in the North. While we appreciate the timely government intervention and release of Dapchi Students, it is worthy to strongly note that the experience is a worrisome signal that abduction of School Girls can happen anywhere at any time.
5. APPOINTMENTS IN GOVERNMENT
CNNC in not unmindful of the efforts of Government to apply equity in making appointments. CNNC is however dismayed to note that a valuable sector of the populace is being totally ignored as far as it concerns making appointments, civil or political. Qualified and loyal citizens from the North who happen to be Christians are often turned away in their legitimate quest for jobs because of their faith. By the same reason, they are denied promotions. This unfair treatment should not have any place in the 21st Century when all nations are seeking for quality and experience hands to develop themselves. Northern States Government should please look into this matter and ensure that equity prevails in employment practices.
7. ELECTIONS
As the country is gearing itself in anticipation of the next general elections, CNNC is obliged to draw attention to the following salient issues:
The security agencies should realign their security architecture so that the fear of the unknown that is usually the catalyst for people to migrate southward from the North and vice versa or to safer areas is checked and brought under control.
In the event that the electronic voting is actually introduced, there should be an equitable and rigorous dry run of the new electronic system of voting in all locations particularly in the rural areas. There should be no discrimination in giving orientation to potential voters on the use of the electronic voting machines.
CNNC condemns the use of Child-voters in the electoral system as was alleged took place in recent elections in some States. Nothing could be more disgraceful to our Nation than to deliberately indulge ourselves in such despicable practice in the 21st-Century. INEC and the security agencies should be on the alert and ensure that Child-voters are totally dismantled.
8. RESTRUCTURING
CNNC notes with great relief that the party in power has taken the unprecedented step of coming out with a position paper on “Restructuring”. This is a most welcome move. It is the view of CNNC that the Nigeria Project should be completely restructured in such a way as to eradicate the ascendency of ethnicity and religion as the basis for administering the Nigeria Project. Restructuring should address and eliminate the national maladies that have afflicted the nation interminably.
9. AGRICULTURE
CNNC applauds the agricultural program of the Federal Government. There is however the need to ensure that rural farmers are being genuinely involved and the incentives meant for them are reaching them adequately and promptly. There is also the dare need of research and qualified extension services for the farmers to enhance their productivity. In the same vein, women and youths should be encouraged and motivated to involve in agricultural business. This effort will help to tame and reduce unemployment.
10. EDUCATION
CNNC places a great premium on the education of children and is therefore concerned about the quality of education being offered and its affordability. There is an urgent need to critically assess the standards obtainable in public schools where so much money is being spent with very little sign of corresponding improvement; private schools have gained ascendency and have worked themselves up and occupy the front-burner of our school system but at a very great expense to parents who could hardly afford the high fees. The situation is untenable and unacceptable.
11. CONCLUSION
We would like to thank members of the press and to say how much we appreciate the opportunity given to this Congress to air its views on issues that are of great importance to the nation. This Press conference is the first in a series that the CNNC will sponsor regularly.
Thank you very much for your kind attention and patience.
Larry Yammai
CNNC Media and Publicity Secretary
