Sam Eyoboka
2 December 2008
THE Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has again called on Christians in the North to show absolute restraint even in the face of extreme provocation, remain calm and go about their lawful duties, saying that the forces of evil are at work and we must not help them to destroy a nation that the Lord had so endowed with human and material resources.
In a press release signed on his behalf by Deacon Sam Dotie, the National President of PFN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, made a very passionate appeal to the Christians in Plateau State especially and those in other parts of the North to stay calm and maintain law and order.
Oritsejafor who is also the General Overseer of Warri-based Word of Life Bible Church again condemned the wanton destruction of private properties and places of worship in what was perceived to be protests against the conduct of last week's local government elections.
"A development that has led to the death of over 300 innocent persons and the destruction of several hundreds of vehicles and other personal property, is condemnable. It is unfortunate that lives of human beings which were supposed to be sacred were mindlessly terminated by persons allegedly on political protest," he lamented.
Continuing, he lamented that what was supposed to be a political protest was hijacked by hoodlums masquerading under the guise of political protest to execute an unwholesome agenda aimed at destabilising the entire political process.
Like the former Head of State, Gen, Yakubu Gowon, Pastor Oritsejafor also posed several rhetorical questions; "Why should the attacks be targeted at churches? What has places of worship, which were supposed to be sacred places, be burnt in political protests?
If the protests were not premeditated, where did those high number of hoodlums come from? Who were the real perpetrators of the series of attacks on innocent Nigerians who are supposed to be going about their legitimate business?"
While commiserating with bereaved families, Pastor Oritsejafor said they should take solace in the Word of God that says God giveth and He taketh, adding that God in His infinite mercies will comfort them in this trying period.
According to the PFN president the leadership of the CAN, the umbrella body of Christians in the country is already working with leaders of the other religion to find a lasting solution to the incessant cases of violent religions upheavals in parts of the North.
Calling on the Federal Government to make every effort to implement past findings of other crisis, he urged Christians to go about their duties calmly, stressing that vengeance ultimately belongs to the Lord who only can avenge for any wrong.
"It is an unfortunate situation but I must appeal to all Christians in the country to show some restraint in accordance with the tenets of our religion which enjoins us to love one another even as Jesus had loved us.
'But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" he added, quoting the bible book of Matthew 5:44.
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