OILING RELIGION

          A group calling itself Concerned Christians in the North on Monday 31^st October, 2011 released a press statement condemning the reported support for removal of fuel subsidy by President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. The group had held an emergency meeting to discuss the proposed plan to remove the subsidy, and at the end of which they described the Federal Government’s plan as insensitive, and an addition to the sufferings of Nigerians. They criticized the CAN President for not acting in consonance with the reality of things in Nigeria. By his endorsement of government plans on fuel subsidy, the group complains that the CAN president is using the umbrella body of Christians in charting a different aspiration from what they used to know of the organisation. They allege that CAN has been brought to ridicule and has been denigrated by those who know little or nothing of the Christian religion, or even the richely-cherished history of CAN because of the activities of its present leadership. They insist that the best way of supporting President Jonathan is to speak the truth at all cost, and not to blindly support everything the government plans. The groups says Christians may support Jonathan because he is a Christian, and even help him deal with some of his challenges, but on the issue of the removal of subsidy, he is wrong, he is going astray and is desperately in need of redemption. Finally, they advise the president of CAN to remember the day of Judgement, and to be careful in deciding when to remain silent, and speak only when it is useful.

          On the same day the Concerned Christians in the North released their statement condemning Pastor Oritsejafor’s support for subsidy removal, another elderly Christian, and an outstanding statesman and former Head of State advised President Jonathan against a hasty removal of the subsidy. General Yakubu Gowon who had paid a courtesy visit Governor Patrick Yakowa, told journalists that since government appears set to remove the subsidy, it should do so gradually to avoid adding on the present hardship on citizens. He advised that our refineries should be made to refine what the nation needs before the subsidy is removed.

          The two events in Kaduna indicate, in varying degrees, that the subsidy issue will severely test the commitment of President Jonathan to the welfare of the Nigerian people; as well as his capacity to engage citizens in an honest dialogue as opposed to paid adverts and spokespersons who do more damage than good to his cause. The President certainly does not need spokesmen like the president of CAN to support him on the subsidy controversy. The scathing dismissal of the CAN president’s support by a group of Christians is only the visible side of the issue. Christians live and suffer in Nigeria like everyone else; and the inconveniences they will undergo when the subsidy is removed will not be easier on them because they have a Christian as a Nigerian president. If the objective of the president of CAN is to polarise the nation along religious lines and create Christian support for removal of subsidy, he will be disappointed. It will be uncharitable and a gross mistake to associate Christianity with policies and programmes which impoverish people. It is also rather simplistic to attempt to galvanise the Christian population towards supporting Jonathan on this issue purely because of his faith.

          History has recorded that many Nigerian christians voted for President Jonathan, and not for the other candidates, because he is christian. That was their right to exercise. But they also have the right to demand that he governs with compassion, vision and respect for all Nigerian people. Many Nigerians who voted for him because of his faith will want to see some manifestation of his faith in the manner he handles their mandate. Pastor Oritsejafor’s role in whipping up Christian sentiment behind a Jonathan candidacy has been over for a long time. The President does not need the CAN president to speak for him on this issue of subsidy removal. He risks spokesmen of other religions taking up opposing sides, as is our tradition in this country. That will immensely complicate matters.

          The President of CAN will be well advised to read between the lines when he gets a copy of the release of the Concerned Christians in the North. He will see the release as a genuine rebuke from people who are in touch with the feelings and circumstances of christians and Nigerians. He will also find the comments of General Yakubu Gowon useful. If President Jonathan can find better cheerleaders than the president of CAN, he should do so now. If he can find a better strategy of engaging Nigerians constructively on this issue than placing advertorials in newspapers which are read by less than one million Nigerians, he should do so now. He can also do much better than having the clergy speak for him on this issue. President Jonathan is not making a case for removing the subsidy on petroleum products the way a President who is about to undertake a major policy shift should do. If his public relations strategy cannot be improved, he should shelve the subsidy removal plans altogether, because the resistance from Nigerians will be unprecedented.