Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has
reacted to alleged plan by Muslims to Islamise the nation.
Onaiyekan spoke in his homily at a Mass to celebrate the
Sacrament of Confirmation at Our Lady of Perpertual Help Parish, Gwarinpa II on
Sunday in Abuja.
His words: “So let nobody deceive you, I don’t think there
is anybody who has plan to Islamise Nigeria, but even if they do, they have
every right to do so.
“They have every right to do so provided they also know that
I have the right to Christianise the whole of Nigeria.
“The answer is not in complaining and crying; stand up like
a man and Christianise Nigeria”.
Onaiyekan urged Christians to defend their faith by
preaching the gospel in words and deeds without comprising the message of the
Cross.
“People complain that Christianity is being persecuted; they
are saying that some people want to Islamise the nation. Just know that nobody
can’t Islamise you unless you agree to be Islamised.
“For as long as you are not ready to stand up and carry the
Cross, you are on the verge of losing your faith; if you don’t want to lose
your promotion for Christ sake, you are also not worthy to be a Christian”, he
said.
According to him, Christians cannot achieve the feat by
compromising their faith, it can only be achieved by carrying their cross and
following Christ.
“You don’t Christianise the nation by standing up and
looking for prosperity or material benefits.
“You Christianise a nation, if you are ready to stand up for
the truth, preach the gospel, carry the Cross and follow the Lord Jesus”, he
added.
By Wale Odunsi
