In an exclusive interview with DailyPost on Friday, Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Spiritual Leader of INRI Spiritual and Evangelical Church, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos, who condemned the killing of Christians cross the country, also took a swipe at those he called ‘Big Pastors’ for keeping quiet in the face of unabated attacks against the Church.
While lamenting the recent attack on Christians, Ayodele, said;
“They slit the throat of a woman preaching in Abuja; they beheaded a 74-year-old woman in Kano; they nearly killed another poor carpenter for not observing fast; they attacked a Church in the Niger for holding a service on Friday, and so on.
“Nigeria is getting to the edge; no more tolerance and we are moving on as if all is well. Last week, the Appeal Court ruled that hijab can be worn to schools. The Sultan came out and told Muslims that ‘if anybody does not want you to practise Islam, you can fight’.
“The fact that nobody has come out to say the Sultan did not say that means he was quoted correctly. Yet, I have not heard reactions from those who ought to have spoken. I am not scared of anybody, I will call names.
“People like (Enoch) Adeboye, (David) Oyedepo, (Folorunsho) Kumuyi, and other Big Pastors that people believe so much are holier than thou have kept quiet,” the cleric said.
While reciting instances of contentious religious issues in states, Primate Ayodele said: “Imagine what is happening in Osun State. The government said female Muslims students can wear hijab to school.
“Somebody came out to say, ‘okay, Christians too should wear white garment to school’. The governor criticised him and so-called Christian leaders came out to say the governor is right.
“Also, this man in Kaduna, (Nasir) El-Rufai says you must have license to preach or do public religious activities. Only one man has been shouting…Apostle Suleman. He has been the lone voice fighting against the government’s pronouncement. Other influential Pastors have not uttered a word.
“Nobody is ready to bell the cat. Maybe they are thinking that they will lose rich members or their connections in power”.
“Christians are being killed. People who should be talking are just there looking. If these killings lead to religious war, nobody will stay. This country is playing with disaster”.
Speaking on the way forward, Primate Ayodele advocated that all hands must be on deck to forestall religious crisis. “Even though I am still watching him, the new CAN president must take steps to put the plight of Christians at the fore front,” he charged.
“We must harmonize in this country. There must be equity and balance. We must respect each other’s religion. A man like me is tolerant. I have Muslims who come to my church that I assist. We should stop all these signs of extremism.
“There is an inter-religious boy in place. We should do more to ensure peace exists because that is the only way Nigeria can fully attain its potential.”
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