A Christian youth group, Concerned Christians Youth Forum (CCYF), has vowed to defend the integrity of the Christian community and its leaders in Nigeria using the instrumentality of law.
The group stated this in a recent Facebook broadcast by its President, James Paul Adama.
Adama said the forum is spearheading the task following the rain of insult on the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, by a Tiktoker, John Olumide Ogunsanwo.
Ogunsanwo had recently berated Adeboye for declaring a 100-day fast earlier in the year, describing the revered cleric as “very stupid and foolish.”
He was subsequently arrested by the police in Lagos and transferred to the Federal Investigation Department in Abuja on the directives of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dasuki Galandanchi, on charges of cyberbullying.
Ogunsanwo has since been released, according to a former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
Adeboye, 82, had in early January asked members of the RCCG to embark on the fast. He directed that the first 30 days of the fast, which commenced on January 11, should be dedicated to pray for Nigeria.
Reacting to Ogunsanwo’s insult, Adeboye explained that he did not ask Nigerians to fast, stating that the directive was to “only my children” (church members).
He further appealed to those who got the Ticktoker arrested to release him, stating that he Ogunsanwo was fulfilling prophecy.
But in the Facebook broadcast believed to have been made before Adeboye reacted to the insult, Adama said the forum took the action against Ogunsanwo to safeguard the Christian faith and its leaders.
Besides, he said the arrest is to ensure that malicious attacks on Christianity and its leaders do not go unpunished
He said henceforth, the group would not condone any blasphemy, insult and defamation of the Christian faith and its leaders in Nigeria.
“Let this serve as a warning to those who will seek to undermine Christianity and our leaders that their actions will not go unnoticed and they will be held responsible their transgressions. Those who seek to defame our faith and our leaders must face the consequences of their actions,” Adama said.
Read the full text of the Facebook broadcast by the CCYF President
Today, we the Concerned Christians Youth Forum, stand before you united in our commitment to defending the sanctity of the Christian faith and the integrity and dignity of our leaders against the backdrop of cyberattacks and cyber bullying by some misguided elements on social media.
We wish to reiterate at this juncture for the enlightenment of the general public that we are not representing any particular denomination but the entire Christian church and her revered leaders in Nigeria.
We have been at the forefront of confronting this unwarranted media onslaught directed against our leaders by invoking the provision of relevant laws as law-abiding citizens. We were behind the petition that led to the arrest and detention of some errant media urchins in recent times.
Now for the record, we also like to state here categorically that the recent petition against Ogunsanwo Olumide John was initiated by us CCYF and not by Pastor E.A. Adeboye himself. Neither was the petition filed at his behest. As a respected elder and grandfather, Pastor Adeboye should not be expected to engage directly in such matters but rather to focus on his divinely-ordained duties as a man of God.
However, this does not absolve us as responsible members of the Christian community from the duty of safeguarding our faith and our leaders from blasphemy, defamation and insult. This is precisely why we, as young, respectable and responsible people have taken it upon ourselves to take up this noble duty by defending our faith, our belief and our leaders by the instrumentality of law.
This is to ensure that malicious attacks on Christianity and our leaders do not go unpunished. We believe that God works through the people to fight against injustice and oppression. We see ourselves as His instruments in this regard.
At this point, we will like to emphasise that we will not tolerate any further abuse of our faith or our leaders. We are fully prepared to pursue justice in this matter until it is served. We are determined to pursue the case of Ogunsanwo Olumide John and other one before or after it to a logical conclusion. This is a matter of utmost importance, not just for the Christian community but in the overall interest of peace and national security.
We are committed to ensuring that the rule of law prevails. We believe in peaceful co-existence, regardless of religious beliefs, ethnic identity and political affiliations. And this is not possible when people continue to use the mockery of other people’s faiths and beliefs as social media content.
Let this serve as a warning to those who will seek to undermine Christianity and our leaders that their actions will not go unnoticed and they will be held responsible their transgressions. Those who seek to defame our faith and our leaders must face the consequences of their actions. Than you and God bless you.
