Rev. Blessed U. Amalambu, secretary, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Abia State chapter, has said that expunging Christian Religious Knowledge from Nigeria’s educational curriculum tantamount to islamizing the country.
Amalambu’s view is coming on heels of rumours making the rounds that Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has deleted the subject from Nigeria’s Educational Curriculum.
But in swift reaction, NERDC has denied the rumours that Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) has been removed from schools’ curriculum.
NERDC had in a statement maintained that the subject was never removed and also insisted that the body did not introduce the Islamic Arabic Studies/French combination, as being rumoured in some quarters.
While interacting with newsmen in Umuahia, Amalambu said if the present government succeeds in removing CRK from the curriculum, it now means that Nigeria is no longer safe.
He noted that if Christians do not kick against any move to expunge CRK from the curriculum and the recent threat by the Arewa Youths, it may in the near future lead to unimaginable situation that could be capable of causing religious war.
“Except this is not corrected, it is a pointer that there is going to be a religious war or intertribal war, especially the threat of northern youths. If they begin to kill the Igbos as they usually do, I don’t think the Igbos will fold their arms this time around”, he said.
On the Biafra agitation by the MASSOB, TRIPOB, MASSOB-BIM, IPOB among others, Amalambu reminded agitators that it is only God who would decide if it would be a reality.
The clergyman counseled the agitators to do whatever they are doing peacefully and avoid shedding of blood.
On the October 1st quit notice slammed on Igbos living in the North by the Arewa Youths, Amalambu described it as very pathetic, adding, “It is not a thing anybody could just wave away. It has a serious consequence because it is an indirect way or direct way of segregating Nigeria and bringing disunity to the nation which is very powerful.
“It was when Nigeria actually had a focus, unity and oneness of Nigeria was the slogan then but recently I have seen that the Northerners have hijacked the issue of leadership and had thought that it is their own legitimate right to lead and therefore any other tribe is not allowed to lead”, he said.
“Though the Arewa Youths alleged that the quit notice was as a result of the IPOB’s agitation for freedom, the agitation by the IPOB was warranted by something. In the administration of Nigeria, the Igbos have been obviously marginalized. In terms of amenities, in terms of allocation, there is no consideration, most especially under the regime of President Buhari”, fumed the clergyman.
He said if Nigeria really wants to be one, no tribe should be marginalized. “Every tribe should be treated equally. For instance, apart from ministerial appointments in which each state must be represented, check through all the lists, check through all the federal road projects and other things, you will see a very wide gap between the northerners and those from this region”.
On the war against corruption by the present government, Amalambu faulted the manner in which it is being carried out, saying, “They are not sincere because most of the people from APC and some areas are covered up or shielded and then others witch-hunted”.
“Let there be a general fight against corruption. If any person from APC, PDP or any other sector or political party is indicted, let that person be apprehended, let the law have its way”.
He said, “Nepotism is corruption. Favouritism is corruption. Giving appointment because of personal interest is corruption and also compensatory appointments”.
He said for war against corruption to be real, it must be devoid of nepotism and tribalism.
On the Fulani herdsmen menace, Rev. Amalambu said the silence of the Federal government has sent some signals that they might be sponsoring it.
The PFN Scribe argued that if other tribes have engaged in destroying crops, butchering human beings without restrain all over the nation, the Federal Government would have taken action.
He said, “If Nigeria and the leadership of the country and all their supporters want Nigeria to be one, let there be fairness, let there be equity, let there be justice, let each tribe be treated equally”.
UDOKA AGWU, UMUAHIA.
