CAN backs Kumuyi’s Abia crusade, asks IPOB to embrace peace

Pastor William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, has been granted permission to organize his crusade in Abia State by the Christian Association of Nigeria.

Kumuyi’s visit to the state, according to CAN spokesperson Adebayo Oladeji, will be a gift to the people of the state.

Bloodshed and other types of instability in the state and the rest of the South East, he stressed, demand God’s intervention.

He was responding to a statement from IPOB recommending Kumuyi to postpone the planned six-day crusade in Aba, Abia State, from May 24 to May 29, 2022, due to security concerns in the region.

Oladeji said, “It is unfortunate that we have killings going on in the South East. If the political will is there, I believe the killings in the region would have ended.

“We have a situation where you have IPOB declaring sit-at-home and despite the assurance by the government, people will decide to listen to IPOB. Is that what Nigeria should be? This is the situation we find ourselves.

 “If IPOB issued such a statement, it is just a reflection of what we are going through in the country. This situation is a precarious one. What CAN will say is that our politicians are in the rat race again. We should open our eyes and vote for people who can protect us.

“There’s nothing we can do than to appeal to them (IPOB). We want IPOB to know that his coming to that part of the country is going to be a blessing and bring victory to the people of the state and the region at large.”

In a statement on Thursday, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, had asked Kumuyi to take note of the security situation in the South East ahead of his gospel crusade.

Powerful said, “Let him and the organisers of the crusade make sure that nothing happens. The security of this region is not good because of political and criminal activities. We, therefore, advise him to stop this crusade for security reasons.

“IPOB will not allow anyone to die because of this crusade scheduled to hold in Aba. The probability of criminals operating as unknown gunmen infiltrating the crusade is high and they will blame it on IPOB.

“We ask him to pray for an end to the insecurity in Biafra land if he can. We charge Christians and men of God in Biafra land to engage God in fervent prayers to expose all those behind the insecurity in our land.”

He begged the pastor to pray for the church’s corrupt leaders and saboteurs in the South-East and Nigeria, saying they are the real problems of the people.

“Let him use the occasion to pray against powers holding the people hostage in Nigeria and at his church in Lagos,” the statement said.

“We also want kids to stand together against injustice.” We had anticipated them to demand justice for Deborah Yakubu, who was burned alive in Sokoto State by Muslim fundamentalists.

“Her murderers are free now, and 34 attorneys have brazenly offered to represent them, but Christians are just watching.” Because her assassins were Muslims, Nigeria’s double-faced security forces were only able to apprehend two of them; nevertheless, if this had happened in the South-East, all of the kids on the street would have been apprehended by now, with the unfortunate ones executed.

“How many Igbo or Christian lawyers came to defend our leader fighting for the freedom of all Biafrans? But 34 Muslim lawyers have come out in defence of the killers of Deborah Yakubu.

“Is it not time Christians and men of God wake up to the realities in Nigeria? They should support Biafra and Oduduwa agitators in their bid to free the Igbo and Yoruba people from the Islamic bondage in Nigeria so that they will enjoy freedom of worship in both republics.

“Leah Shuaibu is still in captivity today because she is a Christian but all the Muslims abducted along with her have since been freed. Christians must support IPOB to liberate them from bondage in Nigeria.

“Kumuyi should also pray against wicked leaders and saboteurs in Biafra land and Nigeria. They are the real problems of the people. Let him use the opportunity to pray against the powers holding people captive in Nigeria in his church in Lagos.”