By vinceent ujumadu, AWKA
THE Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has urged Moslem leaders in the country to call their members involved in the killing of Christians in the North to order, warning that Christians could no longer continue to be on the receiving end during riots in any part of Nigeria.

In a speech delivered at the second session of the 28th synod of the Diocese on the Niger, taking place at the Immanuel Church, Onitsha, the Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, wondered why Christians should be massacred in the guise of protesting in favour of a political candidate who lost during the recent general elections.

His words: “It is sad that any trivial matter in the North is hijacked by Islamic miscreants and religious fanatics to harm Christians, burn churches and properties worth millions of naira. It is disheartening that the killings included National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members that were on national service.

“Perpetrators of these atrocities should be brought to book. We request the committee set up to investigate the crisis to do everything within its powers to identify the root of the crisis and make recommendations that will prevent future religious conflicts in the country.

“We insist that the Islamic religious leaders in the North should call their members to order or be held responsible if things like this happen in future.”

Bishop Nwokolo congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on his election and subsequent inauguration, describing him as one of the very few incumbent African presidents who took definite steps to conduct a credible election in his country.  He noted that many leaders used their executive powers to rig  elections in their favour.

He also commended the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega for the success of the elections, encouraging him however to look back and identify areas where there were lapses and strive to improve on them in future elections.

“It is our belief that if our votes begin to count in this nation, elected officers will become accountable and governance will be a service to the nation,” the Bishop said.