CAN’S INVITATION, FASTING, PRAYERS TO BRING US TROOPS TO NIGERIA CALLOUS, NAIVE – MURIC

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎26^th November, 2025

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎CAN’S INVITATION, FASTING, PRAYERS TO BRING US TROOPS TO NIGERIA CALLOUS, NAIVE – MURIC

‎The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the insistence of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on calling the current state of insecurity in Nigeria as Christian genocide and its endorsement of a prospective US invasion of Nigeria as callous, mean, petty and naive.

‎‎In a press release signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Wednesday, 26th November, 2025, the group warned that CAN was pushing Nigeria into a dangerous phase by instigating the invasion of Nigeria by a crusading Western force.‎

‎MURIC’s statement further said:‎

‎”Despite all evidence pointing to the killing of both Muslims and Christians by criminals, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has insisted on calling the current state of insecurity in Nigeria Christian genocide (https://punchng-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/punchng.com/there-is-christian-genocide-in-nigeria-can-insists/).‎

‎”Nay and more than that, CAN has implicitly endorsed US invasion of Nigeria. All those who wrote petitions to the US about Christian genocide are their members, and that includes Professor Joash Amupitan, the current chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Even if there is no official statement on such invitation by CAN, at least there is evidence that a former president of the national Christian body, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, expressly endorsed US invasion of Nigeria about two weeks ago (https://www.legit.ng/nigeria/1682497-ayokunle-accuses-government-neglecting-citizens-rising-killingsd/). Ayokunle’s endorsement has neither been debunked nor denied by CAN. This attitude is not only callous, it is mean, petty and naive.

‎‎”The callousness and meanness arise from failure to think about country and fellow compatriots while its naivety springs from its shortsightedness and its exhibition of stark ignorance of international affairs particularly regarding the consideration of comparative implications with other countries the US has invaded before.

‎‎”CAN’s insistence on labelling it ‘Christian genocide’ was again epitomized in a letter from its national headquarters dated 20th November, 2025 captioned ‘Declaration of a One-Day Nationwide Prayer Against Christian Genocide in Nigeria’.

‎”This prayer reminds us of CAN’s countless prayers in the Jonathan days which culminated in the accusation by one of their prominent members that CAN  leadership collected seven billion naira from former President Goodluck Jonathan for prayers (https://www.nairaland.com/7246438/pastor-insists-jonathan-bribed-7). Only Allah knows how many billions CAN is eyeing with another round of prayers between now and February 2027.

‎‎”Recipients of the letter were urged to ‘Kindly ensure that this prayer is taken with all fervency’. We are constrained to submit that CAN’s choice of words like ‘fervency’ instigated its followers to take extreme measures. That was why a Christian cleric appeared in a video clip praying for the invasion of Nigeria by American troops. This is the height of religious bigotry, educated ignorance and certificated self-destruction.

‎‎”Advocates of American invasion of Nigeria cannot see beyond their noses. History recounts how the US invaded Mexico (1846-1848), the Philippines (1898-1910), Cuba (1898-1902), Iraq (1990-1991 and 2003-2011), Vietnam (1954; 1960-1975), Panama (1989), Grenada (1983-1984), Afghanistan (2001-2021), etc.

‎‎”How did those invasions benefit the countries? How will American invasion of Nigeria benefit Nigerians? We are still waiting to see if US troops will force Nigerian Muslims to convert to Christianity at gunpoint after CAN’s fair and foul methods have failed to make the dream of ‘Nigeria for Jesus’ a fait accompli since all these years. Desperation, sometimes, can push people to extremes.

‎‎”MURIC’s greatest concern is that US invasion may radicalize and militarize hitherto disciplined and peace-loving Muslim youths in the country. That will be a sad development because we as a group and more than 95 percent of Muslims in Nigeria believe in dialogue.

‎‎”We warn that CAN is pushing Nigeria into a dangerous phase by instigating the invasion of the country by a crusading Western force.

‎‎”Nigerian Muslims condemn terrorism and detest all forms of violence. We are ready and willing to peacefully coexist with all other compatriots regardless of their faith or ethnicity. This is what we have been doing all along.

‎‎”It is absolutely wrong to judge the mainstream and larger group with the attitude of a misinformed, misguided and infinitesimally small minority that is waging terror attacks on innocent people as well as the larger group.

‎‎”We charge Nigerian Muslims and other right-thinking Nigerians to pray for peace, political stability and economic prosperity. We appeal to hitherto peaceful and law-abiding Muslim youths to remain good ambassadors of Islam. We pray that Allah should give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the wisdom as well as the moral and spiritual absorber mechanisms to navigate the stormy waters of present-day Nigeria. 

‎‎#CANPrayer

‎#CANPrayingForUSInvasion

‎#PrayForPeace

#PrayForNigeria

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).