The controversial governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has turned his attention to ethno-religious groups in the country. He has urged the Federal Government to ban them as a way of curbing insecurity in the country.
“I almost didn’t want to attend this occasion because I am opposed to regional, ethnic and religious groupings in this country. In fact, I would like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI) , Afenifere and all such other groups to be banned.”
“I almost didn’t want to attend this occasion because I am opposed to regional, ethnic and religious groupings in this country. In fact, I would like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI) , Afenifere and all such other groups to be banned.”
Sanusi gave the suggestion at an inter-faith dinner organized by the Northern Reawakening Forum (NRF) in Abuja, on Tuesday.
He also asserted that all ethnic and religious groups in the country were actually political associations donning false cloak.
He also asserted that all ethnic and religious groups in the country were actually political associations donning false cloak.
Elite fan embers of insecurity with religion
Sanusi, who attributed the state of insecurity in the country to a fall-out of the exclusiveness and marginalization which many Nigerians belonging to the younger generation had been subjected to, traced the current insecurity in northern parts of the country to power struggle among the elite who use religion to pursue their goals.
He lamented that despite the fact that the Northern region’s land mass constitutes about 60 per cent of the Nigerian landmass and agriculture contributes 42 per cent to the Nigerian economy, the region remained impoverished.
He blamed the northern insurgency on the selfishness of the nation’s elite which had failed to see the future.
CAN says Sanusi’s comments capable of breaching security
In its reaction, CAN, which said it could not be banned, said Sanusi’s barrage of controversial comments portended more danger to security than any non-religious group in the country.
Secretary-General of CAN, Rev Musa Asake, said:
Sanusi, who attributed the state of insecurity in the country to a fall-out of the exclusiveness and marginalization which many Nigerians belonging to the younger generation had been subjected to, traced the current insecurity in northern parts of the country to power struggle among the elite who use religion to pursue their goals.
He lamented that despite the fact that the Northern region’s land mass constitutes about 60 per cent of the Nigerian landmass and agriculture contributes 42 per cent to the Nigerian economy, the region remained impoverished.
He blamed the northern insurgency on the selfishness of the nation’s elite which had failed to see the future.
But his suggestion elicited immediate condemnation from leaders of the affected groups, who described Sanusi’s comments as irresponsible.
In its reaction, CAN, which said it could not be banned, said Sanusi’s barrage of controversial comments portended more danger to security than any non-religious group in the country.
Secretary-General of CAN, Rev Musa Asake, said:
“CAN is not the cause of trouble or insecurity in this country. CAN was formed to protect the interests of Christians, especially in fighting persecution. CAN is not a government institution like NEMA, which any person can wake up and disband. The 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of association and Sanusi cannot just wake up and call on anybody to proscribe it.
Sanusi has been making several controversial statements and as a CBN governor, he should not make controversial pronouncements like this one. It is this type of statement that causes problems, not CAN as an institution. It is unfortunate that at a time like this, when Christians are being killed and churches burnt he is making this type of insensitive comment. CAN and JNI have come to stay. We have no quarrels and nobody can curtail CAN’s freedom of association as guaranteed by the constitution.”
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