Former national president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude, has disclosed that no law in Nigeria is preventing its citizens, including the Christians from protecting themselves.
Rev. Dr. Omobude who is the General Superintendent of the Gospel Light International Ministries – New Covenant Gospel Church, disclosed this during a media briefing in Benin City, Edo State.
”There is no law, as far as I know, in our books that says you should not protect yourself. In the midst of the violence and the unending threats, it would be reckless and it would be naive to say that you should not protect yourself,” the revered man of God said.
He linked the worrisome and horrible period Nigerians, particularly the Christians are going through in the country to time of Nehemiah in bible when the people defended themselves against their wicked enemies.
According to him, “We have had a similar situation from Nehemiah in the bible when they faced such a threat. Yes, the wisdom at that time was that some people worked and some people protected. So every church or organisation must at this stage be security conscious.
”It is obvious that our security agents are overstretched and we cannot ask communities or churches or organisations not to put any legal means of protecting themselves,” Rev. Dr. Omobude added.
As to the many key Christian leaders have remained silent in the face of unprovoked attack on the church and Christians, Rev. Omobude, noted that the major Christian organisations such as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), were charged with the responsibility of speaking on behalf of the church, so as to continue to maintain Christian unity on the security situation in Nigeria.
He said but unfortunately, some people have accused some key leaders of the church of uncomfortable silence over the unending mass killings and kidnapping of people, especially Christians in the country.
Omobude stated that the accusations could have been as a result of the seemingly unsatisfactory handling of the issues by the Christian groups who may not have spoken out enough, loud and clear.on this matter. The reason or reasons are obvious.
”The church has organised herself such that the main organs of the church, like CAN and PFN, should be the mouthpiece of the church in order that we don’t have divergent views. So, we channel our opinions and our suggestions through these organs.
”But as it appears now, it doesn’t seem that these organs probably have been able to amplify our thoughts enough for the public. Most of us leaders have been trying to be good followers, to play by the rule.
”I understand personally the effect of any negative alarm from any of the top leaders that could have far-reaching effect or capable of tearing the nation into pieces. So it would be irresponsible for a leader at a certain level, for example, to call for arms, or to call for violence.
”Violence will give birth to violence. And so we don’t have another nation. So, our restraint is because we believe that a united Nigeria would be the best for us.
” However, I hope that those in leadership don’t take our restraint for weakness”, the former national president of the PFN posited.
Ex-PFN President”
