Nigeria: Elder Olaiya Philips - Northern Christians Are Threatened Minority

22 December 2013
opinion

What are the cardinal objectives of your group and what changes should be expected from you as the new chairman of NOSCEF? Our cardinal objective is to serve as a rallying point amongst most of the Christians in the North. NOSCEF stands for the values of fairness, equity and justice for all Nigerians, whatever their tribe, religion, creed or political affiliation. We want to be a strong voice and powerful vehicle for the Northern Christian community and their support for these values. To that end we will: protect and defend the interests of Nigerian Christians in the north of the country; provide help when and where necessary to that constituency; promote unity and peace across denominational lines in the region; galvanise consensus on political, social and sectarian issues in the overall interest of Nigerians in general and that of Northern Christians in particular. Northern Christians are powerful by virtue of our numbers but we remain a threatened minority.

Our voice must and will be heard. Our interests must and will be respected. And on the issue of what will change, the national executive expects to continue to be guided by the interests of our council. We shall seek to promote those interests through our religious, social, cultural and geopolitical interactions. Apart from the fact that I have found myself in deeper waters, the same passion that we have worked with is the same passion that we will continue with. Christians have various issues here and there and we intend to articulate our stand very clearly.

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