Don’t Take Sides in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, CAN Tells Buhari

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned
President Muhammadu Buhari against joining the Arab world in their
dispute with Israel.

It said Nigeria must stay clear from the ongoing violence in the
Middle East and should not take side as advocated by President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey because Nigeria is a secular
state.

Erdogan had reportedly called “for action by the international
community to teach the necessary lesson to unlawful, unjust and
unscrupulous Israel” due to its attacks against Palestine,

CAN said that President Erdogan expressed his belief that
Nigeria would show solidarity with the Palestinians in this
rightful cause.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Secretary, Rev.
Daramola Joseph Bade, CAN urged the international community to
intervene in the ongoing bloody actions in the Middle East without
taking side if they truly wanted an enduring peace.

“We are worried that Nigeria which was wrongly labelled an
Islamic state because of her unlawful membership of the
Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has been taking side with
the Palestinians since the emergence of President Buhari. Hence why
the Turkish President asked Nigeria to identify with the
Palestinians,” it said.

CAN said that it had become necessary to remind the federal
government and the National Assembly that Nigeria is not an Islamic
State.

Part of the statement reads: “On behalf of every Nigerian
Christian, we call on the Federal government to reverse itself on
the support that has been given to the Palestinians to date. For
the record, millions of Nigerian Christians are in support of
Israel against the position of the government.

“We once again remind the federal government and the National
Assembly that Nigeria is not an Islamic State.

“We call on the international community to intervene in the
ongoing bloody actions in the Middle East without taking side if
they truly wanted an enduring peace. We agree with the United
States that Israel has the right to defend herself against external
aggression. We see no reason why Nigeria should take side with
either of the warring factions”.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned
President Muhammadu Buhari against joining the Arab world in their
dispute with Israel.

It said Nigeria must stay clear from the ongoing violence in the
Middle East and should not take side as advocated by President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey because Nigeria is a secular
state.

Erdogan had reportedly called “for action by the international
community to teach the necessary lesson to unlawful, unjust and
unscrupulous Israel” due to its attacks against Palestine,

CAN said that President Erdogan expressed his belief that
Nigeria would show solidarity with the Palestinians in this
rightful cause.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Secretary, Rev.
Daramola Joseph Bade, CAN urged the international community to
intervene in the ongoing bloody actions in the Middle East without
taking side if they truly wanted an enduring peace.

“We are worried that Nigeria which was wrongly labelled an
Islamic state because of her unlawful membership of the
Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) has been taking side with
the Palestinians since the emergence of President Buhari. Hence why
the Turkish President asked Nigeria to identify with the
Palestinians,” it said.

CAN said that it had become necessary to remind the federal
government and the National Assembly that Nigeria is not an Islamic
State.

Part of the statement reads: “On behalf of every Nigerian
Christian, we call on the Federal government to reverse itself on
the support that has been given to the Palestinians to date. For
the record, millions of Nigerian Christians are in support of
Israel against the position of the government.

“We once again remind the federal government and the National
Assembly that Nigeria is not an Islamic State.

“We call on the international community to intervene in the
ongoing bloody actions in the Middle East without taking side if
they truly wanted an enduring peace. We agree with the United
States that Israel has the right to defend herself against external
aggression. We see no reason why Nigeria should take side with
either of the warring factions”.