The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) yesterday expressed sadness over rising insecurity in the country.
It appealed to former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Theophilus Danjuma to put aside their differences and intervene on Christians’ behalf.
The NCEF stated this in a communique issued after a meeting in Lagos and signed by its chairman, Solomon Asemota (SAN).
The communique reads in part: “NCEF expresses grave concern at the insecurity and atmosphere of uncertainty in the country.
“The threats became worse because Christians have not been properly synergised in recent years and are unable to confront Islamism in unity.
“The Christian elders decried the unresolved issues in CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria), which has hindered Christians from working as one.
“NCEF could not understand why a straightforward issue could not be handled by church leaders with truth and righteousness of God.”
The group urged monarchs to defend their people against insurgents.
“NCEF calls on the traditional rulers of the indigenous tribes to rally round and defend their people and their ancestral lands.
“The real owners of Nigeria are the indigenous ethnic nationalities represented by the traditional rulers and leaders.
“The traditional rulers of the indigenous tribes of the North and South should unite to ward off Islamism – Boko Haram.”
NCEF urged leaders to intervene.
“The Christian elders appealed to General Gowon, General Obasanjo, and General Danjuma, as the most prominent Christian leaders in the country’s military history, to put aside personal differences and embark on joint intervention for Christians and Nigeria.
“The NCEF has no doubt that all three working together, Nigeria should be able to overcome the breakdown of security in the country,” the group said.
The group urged Christians to “unite, become active, and devise means to protect and defend themselves”.
It said: “Self-defense is legal and it is not on the exclusive list as claimed by some Negroid Nigerians. Consequently, the Church must resolve its leadership crisis to provide the necessary synergy for unity.
“NCEF resolves to work with groups that have a credible road map for resolving the crisis in the country.”
The group said funding was its major problem.
“If effective advocacy is desired by Christians, the process has to be adequately funded.
“Christians are encouraged to support the NCEF so that timely and relevant interventions can be implemented because, without funding, no concrete action can be put in place,” the group said.