SAN FRANCISCO, June 18, (THEWILL) – President of the Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman has averred that the removal of Christian Religious Knowledge, CRK, as a subject of study from the secondary school curriculum is a confirmation that President Muhammadu Buhari was out to Islamise the country.
Expressing outrage over the scrapping of the subject, the cleric said the decision to have CRK as a theme in civic education while leaving Islamic/Arabic studies to be studied as a subject in the secondary school curriculum is a deliberate plot by the Buhari administration, among other schemes to eliminate Christianity or at best reduce its significance in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Communications Manager, Phrank Shaibu, which said, “The new curriculum which is the brain-child of the Nigerian Educational Research Council and which is mischievously crafted to force Islamic Studies down the throat of non adherents is unjust, discriminatory, a subtle attempt at islamization, and therefore unacceptable.
“This is a well orchestrated and articulated plot. Let nobody try to fool Nigerians that it was a mistake or a coincidence. Why is it that CRK would be removed as a subject to be studied from the secondary school school curriculum while Islamic/Arabic studies is retained? This is a plan from hell and it shall not stand.”
Suleman also noted that the policy has been introduced at a time when Fulani herdsmen are on rampage in parts of the country and just before so-called Arewa youths gave Igbo people living in the North an ultimatum to quit before October 1.
“Over 7000 people have been killed by these Fulani herdsmen with our security forces unable to stop the bloodshed. So called Arewa youths backed by some discredited elders have also issued a treasonable ultimatum to Igbo people without any reprisals from the Buhari government. So, is it a coincidence that Christian Religious Knowledge has been expunged from the school curriculum?” he asked.
The cleric therefore called on the Federal Government to reverse the offensive policy and immediately restore CRK to the curriculum while commending the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for being at the forefront of seeking to redress the anomaly.
“This evil policy must be reversed immediately. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Christain Religious Knowledge (CRK) must be restored to the school curriculum. And I’m happy that the CAN has taken up the battle to ensure that those who seek to banish our faith do not succeed. We will continue to speak out until satan and his agents are put to shame”, he declared.
Suleman went on to call on the government to stem the tide of consistent attacks by Fulani herdsmen as well as deal with those giving ultimatum to people from an ethnic group to vacate the North.
His words, “For as long as Fulani herdsmen continue to kill, rape and burn people’s homes without restraint. In the event that the safety of an ethnic group cannot be guaranteed in any part of the country. Then Nigerians should know that it is not a coincidence. And my God shall not fold arms while the devil and his children seek to destroy the destiny of Nigeria.
“We have the strength of character, the courage and the conviction to mount a sustained campaign in defence of justice, and in defence of our religion. We will not give up our religious practice because of someone else’. Nigeria belongs to us all and not for a few bigots who currently occupy positions of authority,” he said.
Asserting that bigoty, hate and intolerance by anybody—be he or she a Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or Jew is indefensible and should be condemned, he stated that “the earlier Buhari’s men come to terms with the fact that Nigeria is a secular state and cannot be Islamized or made a Christian State under any guise, the better for everyone.”
Suleman warned that should anyone think that he can go ahead with the curriculum , then he or she should be ready for the mother of all battles, the consequences of which can only be imagined.”
He said it is the collective duty of all Nigerians to oppose and despise all bigots in power, just as he called for a law to punish bigotry severely enough, so as not to make it fashionable or normal in the eyes of our children.
The statement then demanded a return to the old curriculum which will give pupils of Christian faith all the moral teachings which CRK offers.
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