Middle Belt group condemns position of Christian elders on Onnoghen

A group, which identified itself as Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG), has condemned the position the National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) took on the issue of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) who was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group of Christian elders, whose members include ex-Chief of Army Staff, General TY Danjuma among others had condemned the suspension of the CJN and described it as Islamic agenda.

They had also called on Christians in the country and other Nigerians to rise and ensure no ‘Islamist’ emerges as the country’s president again.

But in its response, MBCG accused the Christian elders of being biased and un-Christian-like in their position on Onnoghen’s case, adding that Danjuma and his colleagues were not different from the biblical account of Peter, who betrayed Jesus Christ, using hate speeches and campaign of calumny to instigate other Christians.

Their statement on the issue read in part, “The leadership of the Middle Belt Conscience Guard’s (MBCG) delightedly welcomes you to this press conference. We appreciate and thank Almighty God for his grace, mercies and kindness unto us as a people and a nation these years.

“The MBCG is once again motivated to address you on an urgent national matter. We outing today is premised on the fact that the explosive issue at hand has the potential of throwing our country into serious national crisis which would be of dire consequences to peace, unity and security of our country.

“Nigerians would recall that a few days ago, elder statesmen and leaders of thought respectively, under the banner of National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) led by the trio of former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro (rtd) and former Governor of Old Anambra state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, released a public statement titled “CJN Onnoghen: What is Really at Stake and the Way Out.”

“MBCG realized from the wordings of NCEF’s statement that the cause of current umbrage is the ongoing controversy surrounding the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen by the President based on the Order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), where he is standing trial over alleged breach of code of conduct for public officers in Nigeria.

“Our focus is not to explore the propriety or impropriety of the President’s action or the innocence or culpability of Justice Onnoghen’s over the alleged breaches of the law.

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The matter is already at the level of adjudication by lawful courts. Therefore, describing it as a ‘judicial coup,’ by NCEF is preempting the verdict of the court and amounts to contempt of court. But we infinitely frown at NCEF’s brazen attempt at incitement of Nigerians against themselves and the negative profiling of Mr. President, veiled personalities, religious sects and ethnic groups in the efforts to explain their bitterness in public domain.

“As religious leaders, whether Christian, Islamic, traditionalists or even atheists, we have a sacred responsibility to always preach peaceful co-existence and harmony, as copiously admonished by the doctrines and scriptures of the various religious sects. Christians particularly believe God fights their battles; it is not man. We therefore, find it strange that these elder statesmen, who have served this country in various capacities and for decades would condescend to such level of intolerance and immaturity in handling a perceived grievance. We are compelled to conclude that they prefer to see this country in flames, than peace, which merely thinking about its possibility is very scary. “

There have been different reactions both against and for, on the suspension of Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari last Friday.

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