Promise You’ll Not Islamise Nigeria If Elected President, Bishop Isong tells GMB

The Cross River State Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong, has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to come out and promise the electorate that he would not Islamise the country if elected president in 2015.

Isong, who spoke to journalists in his office yesterday while reacting to emergence of the former head of state as the opposition presidential candidate, said all along Buhari had waved off the insinuation that he was a religious fanatic and should first clear the air on the issue before seeking votes from Nigerians.

He said: “Well, so far, Buhari has not shown any sign that he will do otherwise.  He has never come out to say he is not a fanatic or a dictator.  What he keeps doing is picking pastors as running mate each time he contests.

“Buhari should come out and make a categorical statement that he will never islamise Nigeria; that he will allow the country to remain a secular state as enshrined in the constitution of the country.”

Isong, who doubles as the President of Christian Central Chapel International (CCIC), Calabar, insisted that the APC presidential candidate must first clear the doubts in the minds of Nigerians on his intention for Christians in the country before he begins his campaign, noting that it was important to build confidence across religious divides.

“He should come out and say he is not anti-Christian.  If I were him, I would dispel that general belief first before going public to canvass for votes because that’s very crucial to many Nigerians,” he stated.

On the issue of Nigerians voting along religious lines, he said:  “Yes, religion will have a role to play if our Moslem brothers do not stop the killing of Christians.  The Moslem leaders must stand up and speak against the current activities of Boko Haram.

He appealed to northern leaders to save the country from polarizing into religious lines, claiming that Christians have endured long enough in the country, and have continued to believe in the country.