Reverend Amos G. Kiri, the President of the United Church of Christ in Nigeria (UCCN), popularly known as HEKAN, has described as a monster capable of further dividing Nigerians, the same faith ticket adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a renewed outcry against the same faith ticket adopted by the APC, the HEKAN President, who was delivering a welcome address at a Pastoral Ordination Service for 8 Catechists, elevated to Reverends on Sunday stated that, “Nigeria is a secular State and still remains a secular State.
“No one religion is superior over the other. One of Nigeria’s biggest challenges is religion. Many people have used religion to divide us along imaginary lines.
“The Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of association and religion for every Nigerian. Our politicians have turned religion into an avenue to promote one religion over and above the other.”
He noted that the trend of Muslim-Muslim ticket is not going to augur well for Nigerians.
He regretted, “Suddenly, this monster called Muslim-Muslim ticket has stirred unhealthy debate across the nation.”
He noted that what the choice seems to depict is that no single Christian is good enough to serve as a Vice President.
Kiri explained that “the Muslim-Muslim ticket is unacceptable as it does not encourage inclusivity and diversity for which the founding fathers of the great country, Nigeria, encouraged right from the beginning”, stressing that “any arrangement that does not respect who the Christians are as a people is a threat to the unity of the nation and must be discouraged and discarded.
He said, “I want to use this medium to call on our political leaders at all levels, to always be mindful of our secular status as a nation.”
Reverend Kiri announced that HEKAN General Church has also created three additional District Church Councils, saying that it was meant to bring the church closer to the people and expand God’s kingdom here on earth.
