PFN May Go to Court

By Nwaobia Chigbu, Post Express (Lagos), 9 September 2000

Lagos—The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the umbrella organisation of Pentecostal churches in the country, has concluded plans to begin a legal action against states operating the sharia system in the country.

Dropping the hint, yesterday in Lagos, at a one-day seminar commemorating his 55th birthday, the PFN President, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, also revealed that the religious body is set to transform the spiritual life of the nation.

According to him, it was no longer adequate for Christians to fight against the introduction of the Islamic legal code in the country with prayers but that a decisive action ought to accompany such spiritual efforts by Christians.

Okonkwo, who noted that Nigeria will attain 40 years of independence on October 1, this year, however remarked that it was high time Christians evolved ways of reclaiming the nation for God.

Already, he revealed, PFN has concluded arrangements to hold a three-day fasting and prayer crusade beginning September 29 through October 1, 2000 primarily to ensure that Christians, who he described as the custodians of the country's spiritual life, set a prophetic tone that will transform Nigeria.

The purpose of the crusade is to win Nigeria for God and on October 1,2000 Christians will conclude the exercise with a prophetic tone that will transform the spiritual life of the country, he declared.

Speaking on the theme: The Christians, Nigerian Constitution and Politics, Chief Mike Ozekhome, a constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, said that the islamic legal system was introduced in the country as a plot to secede.

He accused state governments operating Sharia of contravening section 10 of the 1999 constitution, adding that their action was a negation of constitutional provisions for establishment of state courts.

The constitutional provision for the creation of state courts did not empower any state to transform such courts to state religion, he said, pointing out that the bone of contention is that the Sharia introduced in some states in northern Nigerian is being applied in criminal matters which negates the provisions of the 1999 constitution on the islamic legal code. He added that the application of Sharia on criminal matters amounts to establishment of two supreme laws.

The constitutional lawyer, who was also the guest lecturer, allayed fears of lack of locus standi by any religious body in the country that wishes to challenge the islamic legal code in a court of law.

I have intended to challenge the issue of Sharia in court but I know I don't have locus standi but religious organisations who have branches across the country cannot be said to lack locus standi because their interest is protected by law, he declared.

While urging Christians to evolve ways of participating actively in politics, the human rights activist reminded them that it is their duty to transform the country from what he called the abyss of poverty ravaging the nation.

Adding his voice, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, also a human rights activist emphasised that Christians should not only pray for God's intervention on who leads the country but that they should also participate actively.

He contended that the holy scriptures empowers Christians to concern themselves with both the spiritual and environmental demands of life. He remarked that when Christ said in the holy scriptures that mankind should give to Caesar what was Ceasar's and to God what was God's, He was explaining that mankind should live a spiritual life and also fulfil his environmental demands which include participating in politics.

Also speaking, Mrs Nkechi Danjuma, a legal luminary, harped on the need for Christians to renew their lives always in God. She lamented that lack of vision and sense of purpose has prevented Christians from living as light of the world.

She further reminded Christians that it was not enough for them to profess being born again but emphasised that their attitudes should show that they are the salt of the nation.

In his own contribution, a frontline politician, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, took a swipe at Christians for neglecting their duties as conferred on them by God. He said that Christians participation in politics may not be as easy as it has been discussed but, however, enjoined them to continue in their prayers for the intervention of God in the affairs of the nation.

Most participants at the forum favoured the involvement of Christians in politics and also called on pastors of various churches to preach it on the pulpits in order to sensitise their members.

HE Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the umbrella organisation of Pentecostal churches in the country, has concluded plans to begin a legal action against states operating the sharia system in the country.

Dropping the hint, yesterday in Lagos, at a one-day seminar commemorating his 55th birthday, the PFN President, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, also revealed that the religious body is set to transform the spiritual life of the nation.

According to him, it was no longer adequate for Christians to fight against the introduction of the Islamic legal code in the country with prayers but that a decisive action ought to accompany such spiritual efforts by Christians.

Okonkwo, who noted that Nigeria will attain 40 years of independence on October 1, this year, however remarked that it was high time Christians evolved ways of reclaiming the nation for God.

Already, he revealed, PFN has concluded arrangements to hold a three-day fasting and prayer crusade beginning September 29 through October 1, 2000 primarily to ensure that Christians, who he described as the custodians of the country's spiritual life, set a prophetic tone that will transform Nigeria.

The purpose of the crusade is to win Nigeria for God and on October 1,2000 Christians will conclude the exercise with a prophetic tone that will transform the spiritual life of the country, he declared.

Speaking on the theme: The Christians, Nigerian Constitution and Politics, Chief Mike Ozekhome, a constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, said that the islamic legal system was introduced in the country as a plot to secede.

He accused state governments operating Sharia of contravening section 10 of the 1999 constitution, adding that their action was a negation of constitutional provisions for establishment of state courts.

The constitutional provision for the creation of state courts did not empower any state to transform such courts to state religion, he said, pointing out that the bone of contention is that the Sharia introduced in some states in northern Nigerian is being applied in criminal matters which negates the provisions of the 1999 constitution on the islamic legal code. He added that the application of Sharia on criminal matters amounts to establishment of two supreme laws.

The constitutional lawyer, who was also the guest lecturer, allayed fears of lack of locus standi by any religious body in the country that wishes to challenge the islamic legal code in a court of law.

I have intended to challenge the issue of Sharia in court but I know I don't have locus standi but religious organisations who have branches across the country cannot be said to lack locus standi because their interest is protected by law, he declared.

While urging Christians to evolve ways of participating actively in politics, the human rights activist reminded them that it is their duty to transform the country from what he called the abyss of poverty ravaging the nation.

Adding his voice, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, also a human rights activist emphasised that Christians should not only pray for God's intervention on who leads the country but that they should also participate actively.

He contended that the holy scriptures empowers Christians to concern themselves with both the spiritual and environmental demands of life. He remarked that when Christ said in the holy scriptures that mankind should give to Caesar what was Ceasar's and to God what was God's, He was explaining that mankind should live a spiritual life and also fulfil his environmental demands which include participating in politics.

Also speaking, Mrs Nkechi Danjuma, a legal luminary, harped on the need for Christians to renew their lives always in God. She lamented that lack of vision and sense of purpose has prevented Christians from living as light of the world.

She further reminded Christians that it was not enough for them to profess being born again but emphasised that their attitudes should show that they are the salt of the nation.

In his own contribution, a frontline politician, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, took a swipe at Christians for neglecting their duties as conferred on them by God. He said that Christians participation in politics may not be as easy as it has been discussed but, however, enjoined them to continue in their prayers for the intervention of God in the affairs of the nation.

Most participants at the forum favoured the involvement of Christians in politics and also called on pastors of various churches to preach it on the pulpits in order to sensitise their members.