Buhari Group, Muslim Body Clash Over Apostle Suleiman

[caption id="attachment_16039" align="alignnone" width="653"]Apostle Johnson Suleiman[/caption]

To arrest or not to arrest the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, Johnson Suleiman, has pitched the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) against the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

While the BSO was against the arrest of the cleric with the potential backlash, the MURIC wants the pastor arrested saying his comments on Fulani herdsmen was hate speech.

BSO’s Deputy Director, Blessing Agbomhere, in a statement cautioned against the move by the DSS as it could escalate religious tension in the country.

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Apostle Suleiman had stoked controversy while speaking on January 2 when he accused President Buhari of keeping silent “on the genocide in Southern Kaduna has continued to fuel mutual recriminations and distrust‎ among the diverse ethnic and religious groups in the country.”

Mr. Suleiman said he had been warned that Fulani herdsmen were planning to attack him, and urged his security guards to “kill” any Fulani herdsman found around the premieres of his church.

“Everybody has a right to free speech. Any attempt to arrest him can cause a lot of setback for the Buhari administration.

“As a supporter of the President and a believer in this administration, I don’t want the presidency or the DSS to be drawn into a religious battle,” Agbomhere said.

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Agbomhere said people angry about the killings in Kaduna, and are also entitled to their opinions concerning issues of their faith, more so, because Apostle Suleiman is a leader in the Christian community.

However, MURIC’s Ishaq Akintola described the cleric as irresponsible, and provocative.

“Pastor Johnson Suleman wants to make the country unsafe for Muslims and law abiding Fulanis.

“Muslims have never been known to fear death or to compromise their faith. But we do not want to join issues with belligerent people who are always bullying Muslims and Fulanis by telling lies and issuing threats. Neither do we want to heat up the polity.”

Akintola said those killing Nigerians are Senegalese and Malians.

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“It is therefore unwise of us as Nigerians to allow a few lawless foreigners to cause religious or ethnic war in our land. Let us separate criminals from their tribe or religion.

“We should resist the temptation to stigmatise Fulanis or Muslims because a few herdsmen take the law into their hands.

“For the avoidance of doubts, we denounce the criminal activities of these herdsmen but we should mind where we point accusing fingers,” he said.

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