IT'S UNGODLY TO CRITICISE CAN PRESIDENT -BISHOP ISONG, C/RIVER PFN CHAIR

Isong
Chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Cross River State, Bishop Emmah Isong, has said that it is 'ungodly' for church leaders to openly criticise the CAN President on national issues. He said such is capable of causing disunity and generating bad blood within the Christendom. He spoke in an interview in Calabar. Excerpts:

Comments against the CAN president
I was sad when I read the story opposing the opinion of President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. It was quite unfortunate that Pastor James Obamoh had given a direct comment against the president of CAN. It is like washing a dirty linen openly and it is a contradiction to Acts 23 verse 5 which reads: One should not speak evil of the ruler of their people.

The scripture is against anybody speaking against national leader. Papa Ayo as it were is the number one Christian in Nigeria, no matter your domination. He is our leader and every of our opinions whether correct or not must be stood by all Christians.

If you have any disagreement, you can either kneel down and pray for him or go to him and confront him. He will give you factual explanation on why he makes such statements. It cannot be seen that we should open our mouths to disagree with a statement of a man of that calibre who is your father in the Lord. You cannot be more Catholic than the Pope and you cannot cry more than the bereaved.

For a man who sits in that exalted position recognized by heaven, recognized by the Federal Government and the constitution making an important statement like that, when he sneezes, all Christians should catch cold. All of us should reverence and support that position because the Bible says we should pray for those in authority inclusive our president.

No Muslim will go to the press and rejoin a statement made by the Sultan of Sokoto, except that Muslim has a psychiatric problem. It is not done anywhere, more so to be done by an ordained priest, or an evangelist or a reverend to stand shoulder to shoulder and speak when a leader speaks.

Freedom of speech
Yes, there is freedom to speak but not to speak nonsense against your leader. In my culture, nobody in my family can speak when a leader is speaking. Even if your father pollutes the air in public, my tradition only permits you to say, this is a wonderful atmosphere. You cannot say daddy the air smells. What did the Bible say about the man who saw the nakedness of his father and exposed it to the public? The Bible said he was cursed. I am not concerned about the appointment of any IG or anybody. I am not joining issues with that. The comment of the National President of CAN is the rightful comment. He is talking as a Nigerian and as a Christian leader.

In the backdrop of Christians being killed and churches burnt he should be the person that should speak. Nobody should speak or cry for the bereaved. He is the chief mourner. For crying out loud, Papa Ayo has been given the mandate by the entire Christian kingdom, even including Muslims they have recognized that he is the voice of the people. Whether you are the pastor of the biggest or smallest church, keep your mouth shut, let Papa Ayo speak for Christians.

New Inspector General of Police
We have no comment against the new Acting IG. We support him and the Federal Government in its pursuit of national problem. All religious leaders especially the CAN president and Sultan of Sokoto are somehow religious advisers to Mr. President. They have a right to make contributions in some key appointments and policies of the Federal Oovernment. I see nothing wrong in what CAN leader has said with regard to appointment of new IG.

'In the backdrop of Christians being killed and churches burnt he should be the person that should speak. Nobody should speak or cry for the bereaved. He is the chief mourner. For crying out loud, Papa Ayo has been given the mandate by the entire Christian kingdom, even including Muslims they have recognized that he is the voice of the people. Accordingly, whether you are the pastor of the biggest or smallest church, keep your mouth shut let Papa Ayo speak for Christians. Yes there is freedom to speak but not to speak nonsense against your leader.'

Does this suggest disunity among Christians?
Definitely no! We have been united for a long time. We have been networking to see the end of the killing of Christians in the North by Boko Haram. It is not correct to say we are not united. For the first time, we are closing ranks to ensure how we can come together and move the nation forward. I can assure you that for the first time all Christian leaders are at the forefront of tackling some national burning questions because our unity in diversity is not negotiable. But of course, you must have some dissenting voices in a big family as CAN. It behoves on the leaders as Papa and some of us his lieutenants to correct those with views or opinions that can be detrimental to our unity.

Any apology from him?
He should use his discretion to judge and know whether what he has said is right or wrong. I am not in the position to demand for that. This is not the first time it has happened. What we are saying is that church leaders shout stop making 'ungodly comments,' against their leaders because such is capable of causing disunity and generating bad blood within the Christendom.

it is an embarrassment for fellow church leaders to engage in a campaign of calumny against God's chosen people especially in times of national discourse when their followers expect much from them in terms of knowing the truth. He is not speaking as pastor of his church in Warri, he is speaking as Nigerian Pope. Simple!

Boko Haraam
It has become a serious national threat, they are attacking everybody and even Muslims. The truth is that somebody is angry over Goodluck Jonathan being Nigeria's President. If we dig deeper, you can see that this attack started immediately Jonathan started transiting to Presidency. These things didn't happen during IBB, Obasanjo and late Yar'Adu regimes. I would not be shocked if Nigeria breaks up even before 2015 as predicted. We should go and ask late Libyan dictator, Gadafi, why he said Nigeria should break into two.

Why are we suddenly talking about Boko Haram? It is a longterm plan by some disgruntled and recalcitrant politicians who have been living under the illusion that power belongs to them. For me, this Boko Haram is purely political manipulations of opponents of this government. There are no external backings. It purely internal matter and we hope Jonathan should be courageous enough to brace up and root them out of the country.