Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin City, Edo state.
In a stirring address, Archbishop JohnPraise Daniel, the Presiding Archbishop of Dominion Chapel International Churches and Chairman of the Northern Coalition of Bishops & Apostles (NOCOBA), has strongly condemned a recent threat against Senator Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria.
Expressing profound dismay, Archbishop Daniel decried the reprehensible call for violence against Senator Tinubu, labeling it as an affront to fundamental principles of religious tolerance.
He said “Any threat to Pastor Mrs Oluremi Tinubu is a threat to the President, is a threat to women, is a threat to all Christians, is a threat to all clergy and is a threat to all Nigerians”, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and its implications for the entire nation.
The Archbishop drew attention to the misuse of religion to stoke divisiveness in an already volatile political landscape, he called for resolute action within the bounds of Nigerian law.
“Every Nigerian citizen has the fundamental rights and duty to call out our leaders whenever and wherever we feel they are wrong but it must be done within the ambit of the Nigerian law,” he emphasized, stressing the importance of adherence to legal frameworks in addressing grievances.
Archbishop Daniel’s address buttressed the resilience of Nigeria’s religious fabric in the face of adversity. Despite facing backlash and threats for his stance, he reaffirmed his belief in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to national unity and prosperity.
“Yet President Tinubu has not failed the nation. I believe he will turn the country around and we shall see Nigeria prosper once again,” he declared, exhibiting unwavering faith in the country’s leadership.
Archbishop Daniel issued a resounding call for unity and dialogue, urging immediate interfaith engagement to quell escalating tensions. “I call for an urgent interfaith dialogue that can make such utterances a thing of the past,” he urged, advocating for proactive measures to prevent future incidents of religiously motivated violence.
In a bid to institutionalize efforts towards religious harmony, the Archbishop proposed the appointment of a Special Adviser to the President on Interfaith/Religious Matters. This strategic move, he argued, would serve as a vital conduit for mitigating interreligious tensions and fostering a climate of understanding and cooperation.
He was quoted as saying, “We also call for the appointment of a Special Adviser to the President on Inter-faith/Religious Matters, who can and should be our first port of call to prevent, or deescalate such inter religious tensions.”
As Archbishop Daniel concluded his address, he invoked blessings upon Senator Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, reaffirming his unwavering commitment to the nation’s unity and prosperity.