Gowon - Boko Haram, Other Insurgents Need 'Divine Visitation'

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has advised Christians and Nigerians of other faith to tackle the Boko Haram sect and other insurgents through relentless prayers, which he said could provoke some "divine visitation" and end the ensuing crisis.

Gowon also warned Nigerian religious and political leaders, and indeed all Nigerians to resist the temptation of allowing religious fanatics and extremists to lure them into fanning the embers of religious and ethnic or regional disunity in order to avoid the culture of prolonged violence that has characterised the Middle East.

He made the remarks as the principal guest of honour and speaker at the Second Session of Second Synod of the Diocese of Sapele, Anglican Communion, on Saturday in Sapele.

Gowon, who went down memory lane dating back to the nation's pre-Independence era, noted that Nigerians co-existed in peace as followers of Christians, Muslims and traditional religions.

He cited as example, the Emir of Zaria (Zazzau), who enjoyed the support of Christians in the predominant Islamic area and encouraged the building of a Christian church not far from his palace.

He also noted that the Church in Nigeria was able to influence peaceful co-existence and promote educational and human capital development because the church leaders were generally men of integrity who told political and community leaders the truth at all times.

"Need we then ask why some people got the impression that Islam and Christianity as well as traditional religions cannot co-exist in Nigeria and anywhere else in the world? Only a conceited leader will discountenance the place and power of God as well as the wisdom and understanding that could only come from Him. We know too well the end of such leaders," he said.

Gowon wondered why religious intolerance has assumed a damaging dimension in the country such that it has become a major source of insecurity in Nigeria, but posited that even the vilest of religious fanaticism could be tackled through prayer offered by the faithful of God.

"I believe strongly that all good religions preach peace but certain extreme individuals or fundamental groups, for example the Boko Haram, Ansaru and other insurgent groups do not. These latter groups need divine visitation, the kind that Saul had on the way to Damascus for us to achieve the kind of peace Nigeria wants and deserves.

"I am aware that there are challenges to be overcome. I am aware of the menace of Boko Haram activities have caused the premature death of hundreds of Christians, Muslims and believers in other faiths. I am aware that Christians all over the world have suffered greatly since Biblical times. Who can forget the persecution of Christians by the man formerly known as Saul? Who also can forget that he had an uncommon experience on the way to Damascus, after which he, as Apostle Paul, became one of the greatest preachers of the Gospel, even to Gentles?" he said.

The former head of state noted that persistent prayer during the Civil War went a long way in ending the conflict as well as facilitating a successful reconciliation unprecedented world-wide.

"God answered our prayers and the result was that we were able to achieve fast and deep reconciliation, the kind of which had not been achieved in the history of civil wars in the world. To be a veritable instrument of national unity and development, the Church must speak truth to power and it must admonish, not condemn, so as to ensure consistent improvement in the quality of leadership," Gowon said.

He, therefore, charged leaders of Christians and other religious adherents in Nigeria to steer the nation back to the paths of moral values and national integrity through instruction and prayer, stressing that: "Power belongs to God, who needs to be beseeched to guide leaders aright for the good of the people and the development of Society. Moral re-armament remains the best guarantee of the return of social values that moved our people and nation to the paths of greatness," he counselled, while stressing that committed and persistent prayer by all faithful should always complement the country's political leadership.

Gowon, however, commended the Sapele Anglican diocese for the choice of theme for the synod, namely "The Church: Instrument of National Unity and Development," saying: "From the beginning of time, religion and governance have always worked hand-in-glove with each other."

The highpoint of the second session of the Sapele synod was the presentation of a framed picture of Gowon when he assumed the position of Nigeria's Head-of-State as a young man in 1966; the presentation being done by the oldest monarch in Delta State, the Ovie of Olomu Kingdom.

The 96-year-old Ovie of Olomu Kingdom, Ogbon Ogoni Olomu I, who was in 2011 installed Anglican Royal Canon World-wide, commended Gowon for his humble and God-fearing disposition, recalling his insistence on peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians irrespective of religious or ethnic persuasion as Nigeria's leader.
BY OMON-JULIUS ONABU