By Sam Eyoboka
THE National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, is mobilizing Christians to take steps to defend themselves against the increasing attacks on the Christians and their places of worship across the country.

A statement by the Secretary of NCEF, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel after a  meeting of the Unity and Cooperation Committee of NCEF with Christian leaders to deliberate on Christians participation in governance, held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja stressed the need for Christians to redefine their theology of responding to conflicts in a modern Islamists world.

The forum called for a review of the structure of CAN to respond to current challenges, arguing that the current structure was inadequate to help the Church, pointing out that the crisis in Nigeria was simply Democracy versus Sharia. “Therefore, Christians must be mobilized to defend Democracy to ensure that justice and fairness prevail in the country,” it stated.

The meeting which was presided over by the chairman of the Unity and Cooperation Committee of NCEF, Rev. Matthew Owojaiye on behalf of the Mr. Solomon Asemota, SAN, Chairman of the NCEF, noted that the Church was yet to focus on producing those that will accept responsibility for the Church and the nation.

According to Owojaiye, participation in political process was the necessary step to provide leadership as well as defend Democracy.

“Christians are encouraged to join any political party of their choice and also present themselves as candidates to contest,” he maintained, stressing the need for Christians to register with any political party of their choice and for capable Christians to contest elective positions.

”NCEF, therefore, resolved to encourage the Christian Social Movement of Nigeria, CSMN, to set up an observer status with INEC, as the Social Arm of CAN. In addition, pressure should be mounted on INEC to ensure adequate registration of voters in Christian areas.”