The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has thrown its weight behind the Catholic Bishops following their recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while also warning the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, against undermining Christian unity.
Catholic bishops recently met with President Tinubu during which they expressed concern over the social economic situation in the country. Bwala however granted a media interview dismissing the bishops’ position that they did not represent the Christian community.
He insisted in the media interview that the bishops only represented the Catholic community and that their views were unfair to President Tinubu.
But the Northern Christian Association in a statement on Sunday August 2, signed by its Chairman, Rev Joseph Hayab said the Catholic Bishops who met with the President spoke on issues affecting not only Catholics but also Christians and Nigerians in general.
They insisted that their message was one of national interest, humanity and good governance.
The association in the statement said it would not allow anyone to create division within the Christian community for political reasons.
They stressed that members of the NCA cut across all major Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church, Baptist, ECWA, Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostal and other churches.
“We should tell Bwala to know that Catholics are Christians and Nigerians.
“Our members are Catholics, Baptist, ECWA, Methodist, Anglican, Pentecostals and people of all denominations. We refuse to be divided by Bwala’s politics of division,” the statement noted
Cardinal John Onayeikan and the Catholic Bishops who visited President Tinubu according to.NCA deserve.some.modicum of respect.
NCA statement reads further, “They met with the President to discuss issues concerning humanity, Christians and the welfare of all Nigerians rather than matters affecting only the Catholic Church.
“Our Cardinal is our respected leader and the Bishops that visited the President went to speak to him about humanity, Christians and all of us, not only Catholics,” the association noted.
NCA described as “shameful and a disservice” to President Tinubu for his spokesperson to disrespect the Cardinal, maintaining that the bishops offered honest counsel intended to help the President succeed and move the country forward.
“It is therefore shameful and a disservice to Tinubu for his spokesperson to disrespect our Cardinal.
“An honest counsel has been given to Mr. President for his own good and for a better Nigeria,” he added.
The NCA further warned that any government official who chooses propaganda over addressing the genuine concerns of citizens was doing more harm than good to the nation.
According to NCA, public office holders who ignore the realities facing Nigerians in pursuit of personal or political interests should be seen as contributing to the country’s challenges rather than helping to solve them.
“Any voice of greed, propaganda or disconnect with the citizens by any government appointee like Bwala should be seen as those destroying the country for their selfish interest, not minding the larger population,” NCA said.
The associafoon cautioned that unless the country’s challenges were addressed, all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, would bear the consequences.
“Sadly for people like Bwala, if things do not improve, we shall all suffer together and live to see our country not growing as it should be,” the NCA said
The Christian body reaffirmed its confidence in the Catholic Bishops, describing them as patriotic leaders whose intervention was motivated by genuine concern for both President Tinubu and the nation.
The NCA called on political office holders to pay greater attention to the substance of the concerns raised by religious leaders and other stakeholders, rather than resorting to comments capable of creating unnecessary divisions among Nigerians.
