– Lashes put at minister who said it is not religious
The decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to drag Nigeria into the Saudi-led Islamic coalition has been lebeled dangerous and unwise.
This much was disclosed by the Catholic Bishop of Abuja Diocese, John Onaiyekan during an exclusive interview with Premium Times, where he added also that Buhari’s decision poses great danger for Nigeria as a nation.
He said: “I am not sure it is a wise thing. “Once you talk of an Islamic coalition and you are bringing Nigerian armed forces into it, my fear is that this is a dangerous step. “We have been trying, and I think successfully, to keep religion out of our armed forces.
Can you imagine what will happen if Nigerian armed forces were fighting in the North-West on the basis of religion?
“So I hope government will be better advised.” Speaking further, the respected cleric said that countries that joined the alliance before Nigeria were not faring well, arguing that President Buhari joined based on the advice that he got.
According to him: “Those who put the alliance together have not succeeded in putting their own houses in order.
“It’s not as if they have succeeded well in Iraq, Syria and other places. “So whoever advised him (President Mohammadu Buhari) did not advice him well.
” While slamming Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama over his comment that the alliance was not religious, the bishop said: “When I heard the minister of foreign affairs saying that there is nothing religious about the coalition; I’m sorry that the Minister of Foreign Affairs does not know how Nigerians behave and think,” Mr. Onaiyekan said.
“You cannot tell us that something is Islamic and at the same time say it is not religious. That is a contradiction. It’s like saying Islam is not a religion.”
About one month ago, reports had emerged that President Buhari rejected moves to join the Islamic states coalition to fight terrorism, and was hailed by Nigerians for the move. It was therefore surprising just weeks after when the president reportedly announced Nigeria’s inclusion in the coalition.