CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
By Sunday Okobi and Olayide Delano
The leadership of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church has advised Nigerians, especially those arguing over the introduction of Islamic banking not to allow the issue be blown out of proportion in order not to heat up the polity.
The Church also called on the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), which comprised of about 50 Muslims and Christians to deliberate on the way forward for the issue.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, to kickstart the induction ceremony of the newly appointed Prelate/Baba Aladura’ of the Holy Order, Mr. Lazarus Anuba Onyealeonu, the church added that there was no way Nigeria was going to be Islamised.
“Our position in the Islamic banking matter is that there should be an in house accord within the Inter-Religious group, because if we all sit down and have a talk on this, we will have a head way. The issue of islamising the country is far-fetched as we don’t think anybody can do that,” the church stressed.
Onyealeonu was the first Prelate from the South-east since the church’s inception and would be inducted today.
Explaining the significance of this year’s induction ceremony, which coincided with the 86th anniversary of the church, Onyealeonu said the main responsibility of spiritual leaders in the country, was to pray and teach the world the ways of Christ, and not to dabble into matters that can be handle by appropriate authority.
According to him, “we are not looking for Christian banking or Islamic banking rather we just want the country to be united returned to normalcy where the socio-economic sector will experience a boom.”
Outlining the programme of the event they disclosed that the induction will take place on September 8 by 5:00pm while the reception will be on Friday 9 by 2pm at the church compound.
“The thanksgiving service will be for the commemoration of the 86th anniversary of the church and the induction of ‘Baba Aladura’ who coincidentally is 86 years old, and this Order being the first African movement, we are looking forward to great celebration which will be grace by prominent Christian leaders including the Christian Association Of Nigeria CAN, Pastor Ayo Ositsejefor,” they said.