#EndSARS: Speak Up And Speak Out, Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians Tell Religious Leaders

The Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians, CNNC has called on religious leaders to please Speak Up and Speak Out especially with regards to the recent crisis in the country where there has been looting and violence, as well as the destruction of private and government facilities by hoodlums and thugs arising from the hijack of the EndSARS protest by Nigerian Youths who recently protested against SARS and police brutality.

At a press briefing held today in Yola the Adamawa State Capital, CNNC said; “We are also aghast at the unusual silence by religious leaders from both sides of the two major religions in Nigeria, Islam, and Christianity. “

While speaking at the briefing, Engr Daniel Kadzai the Chairman,  Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC) FCT Chapter and the National Youth President,  Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC), said further that; “As we are aware, when they speak our youths listen. The nation is in need of healing, our Youth need their unequivocal support and counsel at the time so that we can avoid further violence and bloodshed. “

“We must resort to dialogue at all times. We also urge those in government to listen and put the good of the public as their utmost priority. We urge religious leaders to please  Speak Up and Speak Out as the times’ demand, and that they do this now in order to reconcile the Nation,” Daniel said.

The CNNC which is an organization aimed at promoting understanding, peace, unity, and progress amongst the good people of Nigeria especially the northern Christians, said the group also facilitates the peaceful interface between Christianity and other religions in Northern Nigeria to stand against violence, religious intolerance, discrimination.

According to the group it said, “Going by the recent happenings in the country in the past few days, heralding the EndSARS protests, CNNC believes matters raised by the Nigeria Youth during protests are cogent and simply products of bottled-up resentment in the hearts of most Nigerians especially the Youth due to the despicable neglect in the responsibility by the successive government in the last 30 years.

“It is important to raise critical concern over the escalating violence affecting innocent people of Nigeria under the guise of EndSARS protests where many lives have been lost and billions of naira properties are looted or burnt to ashes amidst the ongoing economic crisis in our country.

“Consequently, CNNC condemns in strong terms the killings of innocent citizens and all atrocities committed by those against the unity and progress of Nigeria. The perpetrators must be brought to book, however, we urge justice with mercy particularly in these complex circumstances.

“CNNC wishes to firmly register dissatisfaction to how a protest that has revealed so much of the plight of the Nigerian has been hijacked by anarchists and enemies of Nigeria and even attempted to import dangerous religious and ethnic sentiments to set Nigeria into unending crisis, this is evident following the targeted attacks on worships places of both Christians and Muslims.

The government should leave no stone unturned to address the Root Cause of why our beloved Nigerians are breaking into COVID-19 Warehouses, and even other places used to store equipment all over the country,” the statement read.

According to CNNC, it asked; “How can we explain Hunger, Anger in the land and the desperate poverty in the Land with huge bailout given to governors, excess crude funds and metric tonnes of foodstuffs sent across Nigeria states. A huge amount spent on the school feeding programme is another big problem that MUST also be addressed.

“Furthermore, there’s an urgent need to come up with humane and appropriate strategies for making the palliatives available to the Nigerian population who desperately need them in a more respectful and orderly manner.  Access to food in these times of pandemic and lockdown is a critical matter globally, as it is in Nigeria.

“CNNC calls on Nigerian Youth to choose dialogue and non-violence as the best possible approach for bringing forward their grievances and we urge the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to promptly respond to the urgent demands of #EndSARS. But there is much more work to be done because most of Buhari’s appointees is either incompetent or a part of the problems following their inability to calm their constituents who are  mostly the youth.”

“CNNC welcomes the resolve of the government to institute a committee to look into the questions and grievances being put forward by the Nigerian Youth and the Nigerian people in the EndSARS protests, and counsel that the committee it is convening be made-up of a strong representation of the EndSARS movement and a cross-section of other representations of the Nigerian citizenry to further advice government on appropriate solutions that meet the envisions of the Nigerian youth and the Nigerian citizenry,” CNNC said.