You’ve Turned Your Belly Into Your God, Northern CAN Slams Onochie
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday described a presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, as someone who has turned her belly into her own God on account of greed and ignorance.
In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of CAN Northern States and Abuja, Rev Joseph John Hayab, the group slammed Onochie as suffering from lack of proper upbringing, adding, “Never in the history of Nigeria has a Presidential spokesperson displayed ignorance and greed for opportunity by insulting an entire religion and its organised association as has happened when a spokeswoman of the President called the Christian Association of Nigeria a “CAN of Worms”, simply because we are insisting that the government must help rescue Leah Sharibu and stop the killings of Nigerians, especially Christians by radicals.”
Taking a swipe at the presidential aide, who had advised Christian leaders to emulate the British Prime Minister Theresa May in promoting religious harmony, the groups said, “Sadly, this presidential aide does not know that the example she gave using Theresa May is what many of us have been doing for decades to promote religious understanding and reduce tension in Northern Nigeria.
“I can proudly tell her and her sponsors that I have personally, as a leader in CAN, attended many Ramadan lectures and Friday prayers in many mosques in and out of this country which inspired Theresa May and many other Western leaders to emulate. This ignorant spokeswoman should ask her boss and many of those working around him to confirm my claims. They will surely attest to this fact.”
Looking down memory lane of Onochie, the Northern CAN noted her notoriety “for insulting a former Nigeria leader by posting a picture of him praying to God and saying that his prayers was “stupid” and “useless”! Who on earth does that if not someone whose belly is her God.”
Reminding her that power is transient and many of her ilk could come to the end of the road with regret, the statement went further to add, “CAN Northern States in Nigeria preaches and practices peace, as well as calls for justice which is the bedrock of true peace. We will never speak evil of another religion and have been calling on all true Christians in position of authority to use good and godly words even when responding to insults, no matter the provocation, not as this presidential spokeswoman has done.”
Appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to caution Onochie and her type in the corridor of power so as to avoid creating religious tension with unguarded speeches, the statement added, “They should learn from previous Nigeria leaders, both Christians and Muslims, whose aides did not ever, publicly or privately, disparage people of other faiths. And if she has done this foolish act to gain favors, then our Muslim brothers and friend should know that she is a child that probably did not have a good home training about manners.
“We are also calling on the international community to take note of those promoting hate speeches and segregation in our country by openly insulting people of other faith without knowledge of the realities on ground.”
