Gov’t has business rebuilding destroyed churches, mosques – Rev. Freeson
Reverend Jonah Hamidu Freeson is Borno State Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. He is also the General Overseer of Christ Shepherd House, Maiduguri, a church he founded after quitting the Nigeria Police Force as a counter-terrorism expert. In
Daily Trust: You have been in Borno State for quite some time and seen the carnage. In what way are churches or the Christian community affected? When the crisis began in 2009, Boko Haram attacks were targeted at Christians, but as time went by, the insurgents expanded the attacks to Muslims and anybody. The insurgency has adversely affected the people of Borno State. There have been so many houses that were burnt without compensation. There were shops and private enterprises that have been devastated, so many people have been killed with others rendered homeless, jobless and many also were forcefully rendered orphans, unaccompanied children and widows. But God is helping us. By His Grace we are now forging ahead.
DT: You said there was no compensation, so what has been the response of the state government, especially to the Christian community?
To be specific, from 2009, there has been no compensation to any Christian based on my understanding, but we are grateful to the present government under the leadership of Governor Kashim Shettima who inherited the crisis in 2011. We have never had any governor in Borno State rebuilding burnt churches, until the coming of Governor Shettima. The governor, based on my understanding and the realities on ground, has tried in that aspect. May be government is doing its rebuilding process in phases, because, as it is, the National Evangelical, the E.Y.N (Church of Brethren), the Catholic churches and the rest of them in Maiduguri metropolis were affected by the crisis in previous years and I have not heard anything about intervention. However, based on the briefings of the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno Chapter, Bishop Mohammed Naga, which I have been privileged to know, the governor has approved and released money for the rebuilding of most of the burnt churches in Hawul, Askira-Uba and Chibok local government areas that are predominantly Christian communities.
Also, it would interest you to know that when Bishop of the Anglican Communion of Nigeria, Maiduguri Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kana Mani (of Blessed Memory), died in February last year, the governor gave N10 million to the bereaved family.
DT: You seem to commend the governor over rebuilding of churches, but how do you react to the position of some Nigerians who think government should have no involvement with places of worship since religion is a personal issue?
Churches and Mosques are public buildings because they are places where citizens who are the public converge. Moreover, we are talking about rebuilding. These places were destroyed. If government has the resources, it should assist in rebuilding places of worship that were destroyed. It is a right step. Citizens have rights to worship. Given the crisis, people don’t have the resources as their economy has been destroyed, their homes destroyed and they don’t have anywhere to live and worship and so, it is good thing that Governor Shettima is doing as part of government rebuilding processes.
DT: Apart from rebuilding churches, in what other ways can you describe the relationship between the state government and the Christian community?
I know that since Governor Shettima came on board, he has been sponsoring many Christians on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This gives Christians a sense of belonging the way Muslims are sponsored for Hajj. This sense of fairness enhances coexistence, builds love and inter-faith trust which contributes to peace in any society. We have been living as members of the same family. We are very cordial with them, anything I want to do, I will meet them and inform them, and also, anything the Bulamas (Village Heads) or the Imams want to do, they inform me as well. Citizens of different faith will only work together when their leader doesn’t take side against one religion in a manner that shows clear injustice. What I think is most important about Governor Shettima is that, he is a leader that listen and this is very important to us. The governor and his administration have not neglected the Christian community. The Christendom has been saying that the governor is the best that has been relating with Christians. It will interest you to know that Governor Shettima’s body language is more about building peace. He has been very careful as an educated and refined leader. These are what I can say about the governor and his concern about the Christians in the state. This relationship can be sustained if the Christians would also pray for the
DT: You have talked about inter-faith relationship between the government and religious leaders. What is the situation in terms of the wider Borno society outside government?
There is clear extension of this. Recently the military in Borno State called a meeting with Muslim leaders and the Christian leaders where we interacted on how we will work collectively for the peace and development of the state. We discussed extensively on issues related to how we will continue to relate and pray together so that God will answer our prayers. So I can testify that what we are doing together in Maiduguri, if extended to other states, Nigeria can be a great nation. The problem with us is that most people, especially leaders do not think of the future. It is unfortunate as we only have a short plan rather than a long plan in our lives. The religious crisis in some parts of the Northern Nigeria is caused by selfish people, people who don’t think of tomorrow. This situation can be curtailed if our leaders. It is unfortunate that any destruction we are doing now in the name of religion will definitely tell on our children.