Is APC Truly Anti-Christian?

Religion is increasing becoming entrenched in Nigerian politics. The map of the votes cast in the 2011 presidential elections shows a voting pattern that reveals a clear demarcation splitting the nation across sectional, ethnic and religious lines. Most of the votes President Jonathan got in the North were cast by Northern Christians in Plateau, Nasarawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, and Kebbi states (where he got at least a quarter of the total votes cast) and from southerners living in the region.

Just recently, the PDP National Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated that an Islamic cleric, Ambassador Yusuf Garba, and the Religious Equity Promotion Council (REPC), had exposed a plot by the APC to balkanise Nigeria along religious lines. It alleged that the party is planning to impose an Islamic agenda like that of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.

In a swift reaction, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said both the PDP and the Presidency were desperate to cause problems in the polity. He further explained that out of 35 officers in the Interim National Executive Committee of the party, 18 are Muslims while the remaining 17 are Christians.

The media spat between the two parties notwithstanding, there are concerns in some quarters that the ACP, by its perceived skewed religious composition, may indeed be up to some form of Islamic agenda. Some observers are quick to point out the predominance in the party of the religion of its key protagonists. Tinubu, Buhari, Akande, Lai Mohammed, El Rufia, Masari, Shekarau, Modu Sheriff, Sani Yarima and a host of others are all Muslims. The involvement of some Christian politicians in the opposition party (Rochas, Onu, Akume etc), has not doused the unease, even apprehension, in some sections of Nigeria.   

The recent defection of five PDP governors and 37 House of Representative members to the APC has not dulled some people’s perception of the APC as an Islamic party. On the contrary, it reinforces it. Other than Governor Amaechi and his state’s House of Representative members, the other defecting governors and almost all their states’ House of Representative members are Muslims.

It is therefore not surprising that the PDP is making political capital of this perception. Religion is a very emotive issue in Nigeria and the PDP is using the religious card, unfortunately, rather effectively. It really doesn’t matter now whether the APC is anti-Christian or not. The PDP’s allegation further entrenches that label in the minds of a lot of Christians across the country especially in its central part where religious fault lines are in volatile flux.

It is important to note that in spite of the posturing of the national leadership of CAN, the PDP is not pro-Christian. It is anything but that. It does not in any way represent Christian ideals, values or interests. In spite of the fact that the ruling party has produced two ‘Christian’ presidents since the advent of the current democratic dispensation, it cannot honestly be said that Nigerian Christians have fared better than people of other faiths under the watch of these presidents.

So, is the APC anti-Christian? It may not have set out to be so, but the composition of its leadership raises a lot of questions. A close scrutiny of its Interim National Executive Committee reveals lopsidedness in favour of Muslims in the allocation of powerful offices:  

1. Party Leader - North: Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Muslim).

2. Party Leader - South: Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Muslim) .                                                         

3. National Chairman: Abdulkareem Bisi Akande (Muslim) .                                                               

4. Deputy National Chairman: Aminu Bello Masari (Muslim) .                                                     

5. National Secretary: Tijjani Musa Tumsah (Muslim) .                                                             

6. Deputy National Secretary: Nasir El-Rufa (Muslim) .                                                               

7. National Publicity Secretary: Lai Muhammad (Muslim) .                                                             

8. National Treasurer: Sadiya Umar Faruq (Muslim) .                                                           

9. National Financial Secretary: Alhaji Shaibu Musa (Muslim) .                                                       

10. National Youth Leader: Abubakar Lado (Muslim) .                                                     

11. National Legal Adviser: Muiz Banie (Muslim).                                                      

12. National Deputy Auditor: Bala Jibrin (Muslim) .                                                    

13. National Women Leader: Sharia Ikeazor (Muslim convert) .                                             

14. EX-officio Member: Muniru Muse (Muslim).

15. EX-officio Member: Alhaji Yemi Sanusi (Muslim).  

This raises very serious questions:

 

Are Christian members of the APC not good enough to occupy the most senior positions in the party?

Will they play only second fiddle in the party as it seems to be the case in APC controlled states in the South-West?

Will Christian interests be protected by a party which seems to relegate its Christian members to the background?

Can Nigerian Christians trust the APC not to reduce them to the status of second class citizens when they elect them into office, especially at the centre?

The APC must provide satisfactory answers to these questions or the anti-Christian label will stick to it and cost it the votes of millions of Nigerian Christians.

Also Read: Will Northern Christians Vote APC

Bible Verses That Would Have Saved Basketmouth From Posting His Rape Joke

One of Nigeria’s foremost comedians, Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth

One of Nigeria’s foremost comedians, Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth, received a lot of flak on social media (Facebook and Twitter) for posting a ‘rape joke’ that many considered offensive. 

Many commentators contend that the joke encourages rape. Some even went as far as to call on Globacom, a telecommunication giant for which he is a brand ambassador, to revoke his endorsement deal with them.  

 

The 'Offensive' Rape Joke Basketmouth Posted On His Facebook Wall

Even though Basketmouth apologised to his fans for posting the rape joke and promised never to repeat it, it is obvious that he is not a good student of the Bible. If he were, he would have known better and cleaned up his act.

Basketmouth And Family

Here are some verses from the scripture that would have saved him some blushes or even millions of naira from lost endorsement deals: 

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Eph. 5:4) 

 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29)

“But now you must put them all away…obscene talk from your mouth…” (Col. 3:8)

 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,” (Matt. 12:36) 

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Prov. 21:23) 

 

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Col. 4:6)

“The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips” (Prov. 16:23). 

 

“Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you” (Prov. 4:24)

 “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool” (Prov. 19:1) 

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

 

 “For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit’” (1 Pet. 3:10).
 

 “...If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (James: 3:1-18).

 

 “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov. 10:19). 

 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). 

 “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth” (Prov. 10:20).

 “The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near” (Prov. 10:14). 

 “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse” (Prov. 10:32). 

“The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense” (Prov. 10:21). 

 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell” (James 3:6). 

 “Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?” (Eccl. 5:6).

 

 “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34).

 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless” (James 1:26).

All scripture from the English Standard Version (ESV)

Kanye West's Yeezus Tour & Album: Satanic Evangelism - iPost, Christian Post

Kanye West Speaking With Fake Jesus On Stage

Kanye West's new music tour "Yeezus" is causing shock waves through the world. It's filled with blasphemous statements and images against Jesus Christ. Just recently West was in Seattle, Washington, where he kicked off his concert tour. There, he continued his blasphemous acts by bringing a mock Jesus on stage.

 

Inverted (Upside Down) Cross is a Satanic Symbol

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