CCYF DEMANDS END TO ATTACKS ON NIGERIAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS
The President of the Christian Concerned Youth Foundation (CCYF), James Paul Adama, has taken a firm stand against what he describes as targeted and inflammatory attacks on Nigeria’s revered religious leaders. In a strongly worded statement, the CCYF called on activist and journalist OMOYELE SOWORE—the founder of Sahara Reporters—to immediately cease his reported campaign of cyberstalking, public insults, and inflammatory reporting directed at prominent figures in Nigeria’s Christian community.
According to the CCYF, reports from numerous citizens and religious groups indicate that influential figures such as Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, and Pastor Jerry Eze have been unfairly targeted. The organization asserts that such actions not only undermine the moral authority of these leaders but also pose a risk to national unity and could potentially incite interfaith tensions in an already volatile socio-religious climate.
The controversy deepens with accusations that Sowore’s comments, which reportedly label these respected spiritual figures as failures or uneducated, are not only disrespectful but could also lead to a breakdown of law and order. The CCYF, under the leadership of James Paul Adama, has urged the Federal Government to intervene, emphasizing that free expression does not extend to actions that could destabilize the nation. The statement underscores that while public figures must be open to scrutiny, there exists a critical line between constructive critique and outright vilification.
This dispute highlights a broader societal challenge in Nigeria: reconciling the demands of modern accountability with the long-held reverence for religious institutions. As debates continue over the role of the press in holding public figures accountable, the CCYF’s actions serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between protecting freedom of expression and preventing social unrest. The outcome of this confrontation may well set an important precedent for how similar conflicts are managed in Nigeria’s complex, multi-religious society.
