CAN Kicks against Ban of School Prayers, Grazing Reserves for Cattle Herdsmen

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Sunday kicked against attempt by some state governments to place a ban on school prayers.

The directive by states such as Cross River State caused an uproar last week over plans to halt prayers during assembly time in schools.

The directive which was said to have emanated from the state Commissioner of Police and issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, provoked condemnations mostly from the Catholic Church and its Emeritus Archbishop, Most Rev. Joseph Ukpo.

In a swift reaction, the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, said the Force did not issue any order banning assembly devotion in primary and secondary schools anywhere in Nigeria.

In a communique in Abuja, CAN deplored the attempt to prevent pupils and students in schools from carrying out their religious obligation during school hours.

In the communique signed by CAN’s Secretary General, Rev. Musa Asake, the association said: “CAN has received with great concern the news that some state authorities have either banned assembly devotion in our primary and secondary schools or are contemplating doing so.

“This new trend is evil and must not prevail. While the society is working hard to inculcate good moral values in our children at this tender age through assembly devotion in our schools so that they can grow up to be good citizens, government policies like this will certainly draw the society several years back in moral decadence.”

CAN observed that “the fear of bomb attack or any such danger being given by some state authorities as the reason(s) for school children not to gather in prayer and learning is grossly misplaced and untenable. It is our candid opinion that government should provide adequate security where there are concerns of this nature.

“We commend the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, for reversing a wrong directive of Permanent Secretary on this matter and advise other state authorities involved in this ungodly directive to take a cue.”

Meanwhile, CAN also expressed its opposition to plans to establish grazing areas for Fulani cattle herdsmen outside their domain.

“CAN has observed with keen interest the on-going national discussion over establishment of grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen in all parts of the country. This proposal, if implemented portends very grave danger for our national peace and security.

“ It is common knowledge that the herdsmen, under the guise of cattle grazing have caused fatal incidents in many parts of Nigeria currently. They have been associated with violent deaths, lethal injuries, kidnapcases, rape cases and destruction of properties, food crops, etc, in their host communities,” CAN stressed in the communique.

According to Asake, the perennial cases of conflicts among the cattle herdsmen have transformed them “from herdsmen to mercenaries and armed bandits. They have converted the farmlands of their host communities into slaughter farms. This is unacceptable and should be a cause of great concern to the federal government and well-meaning Nigerians.

“As a way forward we suggest that the federal government should encourage the state governments where these herdsmen are predominant to establish modern ranches for them, rather than allowing them to cause problem in other parts of the country.

“Establishing modern ranches for nomads is a worldwide standard best practice and this will be of immense benefit to the herdsmen and their families. The ranches will have Schools, hospitals and other social amenities. The meat and other products from these ranches will be exported to other parts of the country, thus creating lucrative business and employment for the citizenry.

“The idea of acquiring parcels of land in the 36 states of Nigeria and FCT for the sole purpose of providing grazing area for the nomads and their herds of cattle should be dropped in the overall interest of national security. God bless Nigeria,” they concluded.

Meanwhile, the IG noted that against the backdrop of current security challenges in the country, the police only issued advisory notice directed predominantly to the states where there is insurgency, enjoining them to apply caution in the said assembly so that such congregations do not present soft targets for insurgents.
Reminding citizens of their freedom of worship as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the police high command stated that the Nigeria Police Force did not stop anybody from taking part in prayer sessions organised by schools, churches and mosques, describing the congregation as the constitutional and democratic rights of Nigerians.

Arase therefore, called on the public to see the present position of the Force as a necessary sacrifice for the security, safety and peace Nigerian schools need as security is a collective responsibility.

Meanwhile, the police boss has reassured Nigerians of the Force’s determination to strengthening and enhancing the safety and security of all residents of Nigeria while counting on Nigerians to continue to support and work in synergy with the Nigeria Police Force toward the achievement of its constitutional mandate.

Also, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has called on the federal government to urgently collaborate with state governments to establish modern mega cattle ranches in the country as panacea to the recurrent clashes between herdsmen and their host communities.

Mimiko noted that the wanton destruction of lives and property through clashes between nomads and native farmers had become worrisome, particularly now that kidnapping dimension has been added to it.

Mimiko made the call at the weekend during a courtesy call on him by the Mayetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria being part of efforts by the Sultan of Sokoto to broker peace between herdsmen and their host communities across the nation.

The association was led by its National President, Alhaji Muhamadu Kirowa Zuru.
Speaking on behalf of the president of the association, the General Secretary, Alhaji Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said the meeting became necessary to promote peaceful co-existence and national unity across all divides and particularly to sympathise with Chief Olu Falae over his abduction allegedly perpetrated by some criminals within the nomadic community.

The president said the association condemned criminality irrespective of who committed it and solicited government support for the restoration of all grazing reserves, cattle routes and provision of social amenities, among others, within the reserves for proper and modern system of animal husbandry.

He called on Yorubas to help build a solid bridge of brotherhood between the Fulanis and the people of the South-west.

“We are specifically calling on the good people of Ondo State and Yoruba nation to help build a solid bridge of friendship between the Fulanis and the people of South -west to collectively build on issues that unite us as people of one united country and constitution.

“We are assuring Mimiko of our desire to partner with his government in confronting the menace of some misguided miscreants among us” the president said, even as he assured of the state chapter of the association’s willingness to partner Ondo State government in promoting peace and development.

Responding, the Ondo State governor commended the Sultan of Sokoto for the peace sensitisation for the promotion of unity and urged the federal government in collaboration with the northern governors to build modern cattle ranches for herdsmen.

He saluted the courage of the breeders association for openly condemning the evil being perpetrated by the social miscreants within the nomadic community and thus called for joint efforts to fight the menace.

Source: ThisDay