Pastor David Ibiyeomie, founder of Salvation Ministries, has slammed the recent ban on preaching in commercial buses, saying Christians should have the same freedom to openly practice their faith like Muslims.
Ibiyeomie, speaking at a church service, said that stopping Christians from preaching in buses while allowing Muslims to use loudspeakers was not treating people equally and that freedom of religion must be for everyone.
‘Leave Christians alone. “Let us allow Muslims, let us allow Christians,” he said.
“If Muslims can also raise their microphone we are free to preach. Freedom of religion is guaranteed. No one is warning the Moslems… You should not hinder us in our preaching.”
He pleaded with journalists to not twist his words while covering his sermon and that his comments should be reported verbatim.
“Don’t make me alter what I said. Say it how I said it. We desire peace. “Don’t twist my words,” he repeated.
Ibiyeomie said he would never be silent if Christianity was being “humiliated,” warning against any policy he felt was unfairly targeting Christian evangelism.
I will not be alive to see Christianity disgraced in Nigeria. Never.
He also alleged that there were attempts to make Nigeria an Islamic nation but insisted such attempts would not succeed.
“They want to make Nigeria an Islamic nation. Some people say I’m joking. It’s coming but it can’t be. “Nigeria will never be an Islamic country.”
The pastor also pointed out that some believers would prefer to leave than compromise their faith if Nigerians could no longer freely practice Christianity.
Otherwise some of us will go out… If you want it, then do your Muslim part and go. We leave. But if you want peace, practise your Christianity as you practise your religion.
Ibiyeomie also criticised what he called the silence of many of the Christian leaders, alleging that some had compromised their independence due to political patronage.
“You don’t hear most preachers because they have taken money from the leaders. You go ask your president if I took a dime from him so I can talk. “You can’t talk to a man and take money from him.”
He also dismissed suggestions that his criticism was based on ethnicity, saying he had always spoken out regardless of who was president.
I will never be a tribal preacher. Never.”
Ibiyeomie also compared the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan with the present government, saying many religious leaders who were vociferous in the past had become silent in the face of worsening conditions.
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They were screaming, Jonathan was here. It has come now, all is still. Even preachers keep quiet.”
The silence was due to tribal and political sentiments, he said.
\”You know why they’re not talking? Tribalism. “
The cleric also said that lawmakers were busy on issues such as restrictions on preaching and were not addressing urgent national issues such as insecurity, terrorism, hunger and the plight of Nigerians abroad.
Terrorism is a problem. Hunger is an issue. “Nigeria has a problem.”
“They haven’t made laws about the killing of Nigerians every day. They have not stood up and said,
‘South Africa stop this rubbish you are doing to Nigerians.”
Ibiyeomie cautioned against policies that could spark religious tensions, insisting that peace can only be sustained where all faiths are equal before the law.
If you want peace, let Christians practise their religion as Muslims practise theirs.