The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday lashed out at Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, accusing him of discrediting the association in his desperation to please President Muhammadu Buhari.

Samson Ayokunle, CAN President, asked Osinbajo to stop discrediting the association in his avowed resolve to douse religious tension in the country.

Last week, the Vice President had said at a public function that there was no agenda to islamise the country and that no one could possibly do so.

A statement issued by Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant, Media and Communications to Ayokunle said most Christian leaders in the country were taken aback by the remarks and had sought the intervention of the leadership of CAN to set the record straight with documented facts pointing towards the plot by the present government to islamise the country.

Ayokunle said the Vice President was talking tongue in cheeks, reiterating that the plot by the government of President Buhari to Islamise Nigeria was real, urging Osinbajo to cross check his facts well before making public remarks on the issue next time.

He noted that, Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, should use his good office to correct the imbalance in the Nigerian system and other alleged unconstitutional actions noted with the government in order to reduce tension in the polity.

He added that the body of Christians in Nigeria has long been aware of the grand plot to Islamise Africa, with Nigeria as a major focus, stressing that the Nigerian government had been working in tandem with the Organisation Of Islamic Countries (OIC) and Islam In Africa Organisation to achieve this.

“The OIC met in London in 1983, with a follow-up meeting in Nigeria in 1989, and had issued a communiqué to Islamize Africa, with Nigeria capturing a great attention. This is public knowledge while facts could be obtained from Wikipedia with links on OIC’s Conference in London, 1983 and Abuja Declaration of 1989.

“It is also a matter of fact that Nigeria was later made an observer member of the body (OIC) through General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. Under General Sani Abacha, another Muslim leader, Nigeria was made full member in total violation of the constitution that the nation is secular and our government should not be religiously partisan.

“From then on, conscious efforts were on to draw Nigeria into joining different Islamic organizations in keeping with the resolutions of OIC & Islam in Africa Organization (IAO). (See their communiqué tagged ‘Abuja Declaration of 1989),” Ayoukunle noted.

He stressed that CAN had not been opposing, and would not oppose Islamic evangelism in any part of Nigeria, even if done with the support of the government since Christians also evangelise. However, he said the Christian body would never support any government to make Islam a state religion under any guise.

“We are not opposed to Islamic evangelism by any Muslim group if done with a peaceful motive. The Christians also exercise their constitutional rights to do so through revivals and gospel rallies. But we are opposed to the government of Nigeria adopting Islamic resolutions aimed towards a compelling of this country, contrary to the dictates of the constitution.

“Our worry as a body is that Nigeria started getting active in international Islamic alliances and organisations in total violation of the constitution. But the Vice President seems not conscious of this and the motive behind adoption of the Sukkuk Bond. Then we ask, Is Sukkuk constitutional? Is Sukkuk not part of the resolutions of OIC & IAO, Is it not part of Nigeria’s adoption of Islamic sharia and financial system that it is mandatory for all governments in Africa subscribing to Islam?

“We also ask why the present government joined Islamic Military Alliance against terrorism? Are we an Islamic nation to so do? Can’t Nigeria fight terrorism without joining Islamic coalition? Why would the government continue to consciously heat up the polity?”