Stop Disrespecting T.B. Joshua - CAN Warns Investigators

A coalition of Christian groups, led by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the South-West have urged investigators of the September 12 Synagogue building collapse to treat the founder of the church, T.B. Joshua with dignity and respect.

The association made this statement while addressing a press conference led by chairman  CAN South-West, Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade in Lagos.

A guest-house under construction within the premises of Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed on September 12 killing no fewer than 115 people, leaving may other injured.

CAN warned investigators against any attempt by over zealous government officials harassing churches for building approvals, to use the incident as leverage to clamp down on other churches.

“T. B. Joshua is a servant of God and whatever happens, he deserves some respect and dignity, because he could not have wished anything bad for his church members.

“Nobody is saying that the government should not probe the Synagogue incident to prevent future occurrences, but it should not be turned into instrument of vendetta,” Archbishop Atilade said.

The Sun reports that the coalition also called on the Federal Government to make the release of the abducted Chibok girls a pre-condition for peace pact with Boko Haram, and engage the services of experts and tacticians to handle the peace negotiation with the insurgents in order not to play into their hands or used the girls as a bait to commit further atrocities.

Other groups in the coalition are the Christian Welfare Initiatives (CWI), Inter Faith Coalition for Dialogue and Peace International (INFERDPEL), The New Nigeria Group, Christian Front for Democracy, Under Grass Root For Growth Initiative (Ibadan), United Christian Campaign Organization (Ekiti, Ondo, Osun states) and the Alliance for Christian Democracy (Ogun State).

Archbishop Atilade, who is the chairman Christian CAN South-West and national president of the Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI), said the announcement of the ceasefire agreement between the government and Boko Haram was too hasty and called for sincerity and good faith from the insurgents.

Atilade noted that Christians in the North had been at the receiving end of the Boko Haram heinous activities, killing over 75,000 Christians and destroying over 2,900 churches, apart from their properties.