Security Agencies Must Act on Provocative Religious Remarks-Pastor Enenche
The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr Paul Enenche, has questioned the failure of security agencies to invite Islamic cleric Sheikh Muhammad Jingir over recent comments supporting a Muslim-Muslim political arrangement in Nigeria.
Enenche raised the concern during a sermon on Sunday. He argued that authorities should respond to public statements capable of increasing religious tension or triggering violence.
The Dunamis pastor also rejected suggestions that Christianity should occupy a secondary position in Nigeria.
According to Enenche, Christians make up a significant part of the country’s population and should not be treated as inferior to followers of another religion.
“Christianity is not secondary, and no group of religious fanatics will ever make it secondary,” Enenche said.
The cleric also criticised security agencies for what he described as a failure to act on potentially inflammatory remarks.
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He questioned why Jingir had not been invited for questioning to determine whether the comments could provoke violence.
Enenche warned that authorities should take statements capable of affecting public order seriously.
“I blame security forces for allowing people to make reckless statements,” he said, adding that such remarks could trigger violence.
The pastor further urged Nigerians not to take the Christian community for granted.
“Nobody should take the church in this nation for granted,” Enenche said.
The comments followed controversy surrounding statements attributed to Jingir, Chairman of the Ulama Council of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’ikamatis Sunnah.
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Jingir recently advocated the continuation of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. He reportedly made the remarks at a special wedding reception organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples whose marriages it sponsored.
During the event, the cleric urged Muslims to vote in a way that would demonstrate their numerical strength.
The remarks have since generated reactions from different political and religious commentators.
Speaking to the BBC after the controversy, Jingir maintained his support for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. He also said his position predated the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Other public figures who have reacted to the controversy include National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, and Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode.
The growing reactions have renewed discussions about religion, political representation and the need for responsible public statements in Nigeria’s increasingly sensitive political environment.
Source: Punch News
Content Credit: Esther Adeyemi
Image Credit: Facebook.com
