National Christian Elders Forum on Wednesday protested against the suspension of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as an Islamic agenda.

The organisation called on Nigerians to mobilise themselves to resist the Islamists in the country.

NCEF said the President’s decision to suspend Onnoghen  was a “judicial coup.”

What was surprising, it said, remained the apparent unwillingness of Christians and other Nigerians to understand the core problem of the country.

Members of the group include Mr Theophilus Danjuma, Mr Solomon Asemota, Mr Joseph Otubu, Mr Joshua Dogonyaro, Mrs Kate Okpareke, Mr Ayo Abifarin, Mr Zamani Lekwot, Mr Moses Ihonde, Mr Nat Okoro, and Mr Matthew Owojaiye.

Others are Mr Kalajine Anigbogu, Mr Shyngle Wigwe, a former Deputy Inspector-General of  Police, Mr L. Dabup, Mr John W. Bagu, Mr Saleh Hussaini, Mr Mike Orobator, Mr James Ogebe, Mr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Mr Debo Omotosho, Mrs Priscilla Kuye, Mr S. D. Gani, Mrs Osaretin Demuren, and MrYussuf Turaki.

NCEF’s statement, signed by its chairman, Asemota, was titled, “CJN Onnoghen: What is really at stake and the way out.”

The group said, “In 2015, Nigerians unwittingly elected an Islamist government into office, supposedly on a platform of democracy. It is with this as background that the questionable suspension of CJN, Mr Walter Onnoghen, should be situated. The ‘judicial coup’ is not only against the judiciary, but also the constitution that is under attack and with it, the sovereignty of the Nigerian state as a democratic nation.”

Christian elders also restated their commitment to prayerfully support Christian presidential candidates and indeed any candidates who would be committed and loyal to the tenets of liberal democracy, human rights and equality under the law.

Asemota said the Islamists that belonged to the Salafist sect believed that modern society should run according to the 6th century pattern of Islam.

“Islamism is not a religion but a political ideology which holds that wherever Islam is, Islam must dominate,” he said.

He added, “That is one reason why Islamism is called “political Islam. However, while all Islamists are Muslims, all Muslims are not Islamists. The National Christian Elders Forum is calling on Nigerians to mobilise to resist the Islamists in Nigeria and ensure that they do not return to power again so that Nigerians can concentrate on building a just and equitable society.”

According to them, infrastructure that is sustaining Islamism in Nigeria must be dismantled and democracy must be promoted.

They stated, “In order to put an end to the recurring decimal of violence, conflicts, suspicion, distrust, insecurity, poverty and other vices plaguing Nigeria, NCEF reiterates that Nigerians should ensure that Islamists are not voted into power in 2019.”

Punch