Former
President Goodluck Jonathan has finally spoken out on the incessant
religious violence and extremism in the country, saying that the menace
will destroy the nation.
Goodluck Jonathan
In his presentation to the United States House Sub-Committee on
Africa, on Wednesday, former President Goodluck Jonathan, disclosed that
if Nigeria fails to address religious violence and extremism, the
menace will destroy the country.
While making specific mention of the unending killings in Southern
Kaduna, the former President also declared that the solution to the
Niger Delta crisis was already included in the report of the 2014
National Conference, held in Abuja.
According to Punch newspaper, Jonathan revealed that military
action would not solve the agitation in the region, stressing that it
would create secessionist groups in the region, adding that failure to
apprehend culprits of previous religious killings had emboldened those
who engaged in such acts.
A copy of the presentation was made available on Thursday in Abuja by the former President’s media aide, Ikechukwu Eze.
In his presentation, he grouped sensitive issues the sub-committee
invited him to speak on as ‘Challenges facing Nigerian Christians and
the Niger Delta Question’.
Advising the Federal Government on religious killings in the
country, he said Nigeria could no longer ignore conflicts going on in
various parts of the country.
Jonathan added, “If, as a nation, we do not kill religious
persecution and extremism, then religious persecution and extremism will
kill Nigeria.
“The potential danger associated with the level of conflicts
going on across the country is so glaring that no sane mind can ignore,”
he said, adding that security agencies had a history of failing to
apprehend the culprits.
“Your invitation (of the sub-committee) letter profusely
highlighted the issues of the killing of Christians in Nigeria, the last
major incident being the recent killings in Southern Kaduna in Kaduna
State, and I do not need to elaborate on that.
“The challenge is how we stop that from recurring. How do we
ensure that Christians and Muslims co-exist peacefully in Nigeria and
practise their religions freely without discrimination, molestation and
killings?,” Jonathan stated.
He stated that although there had been more than 10 major incidents
of ethnic and religious violence in Kaduna State since 1992, only in
one were the culprits punished in Zango Kataf, when the Ibrahim
Babangida administration sentenced 14 persons to death over the riot in
the area.
Jonathan said he supported the recommendation of the 2014 National
Conference that an Equity Commission be created to handle religious
crisis.
Quoting the report of the conference, he stated, “In view of
the fact that religion plays a vital role in many aspects of our
national life, especially in the aspect of national security and
national unity, it is highly imperative that it be singled out from
other fundamental rights and given a special attention via the creation
of an Equity Commission whose sole mandate will be to focus on religious
rights and their promotion.
“This is in line with best global practices as many advanced
democracies have special legal and institutional arrangements for some
very sensitive aspects of their national life.”
Jonathan believed that the establishment of specialised agencies,
such as the equity commission, would not be out of place, adding that
they existed in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United
States.
Jonathan stated, “I totally agree with the 2014 National
Conference on the need to establish the Religious Equity Commission that
will have powers to arrest and prosecute those who contravene the law.”
To end the ethnic and religious conflicts in Nigeria, he stated,
“I recommend the establishment of the Religious Equity Commission,
enforcement of our laws without fear or favour and maximum cooperation
by all Nigerians, especially our revered religious leaders and clerics.”
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