Religion And Politics: Political Thugs Burn Down Winners Chapel

 As tension to the Presidential elections heightens across the 36 states of Nigeria, and the reported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by Bishop David Oyedepo, suspected political thugs have burned down Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel. 

The Trent reported that the incident occurred at a branch of Living Faith Church in Giwa, Headquarters of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The incident which took place less than 48 hours to the country’s awaited presidential election was reportedly carried out by two men on a motorcycle.

It was gathered that the entire church with all the contents were completely destroyed in the inferno that occurred at about 2:30 pm on Friday March 20, 2015.

It was generally believed that the attack was politically motivated because it happened few months after the reported endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the Founder of the Church, Bishop David Oyedepo.

In a reaction to the incident, the President of Tarayyar Masihiyawan Nijeria (Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christians), General Ishaku Ahmed Dikko (retd) and Mr. Sunny Oibe, Director of National Issues in Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) issued a statement on Thursday, March 26, 2015.

The Christian body in a statement titled, “Presidential Elections 2015: Signs of what to expect,” urged security agencies to act quickly in order to avert violence in the area.

The statement read in parts:

“The incidence actually became more worrisome when no effort was made by a passersby to assist in putting out the fire. In fact, it was a Fulani herdsman that saw the fire and reported to the Police Station. Only one Policeman and a Christian volunteer that ran to the scene and attempted to put out the fire but of course could not achieve anything.

​“This situation and the circumstances surrounding the incidence are a cause of serious concern. If this can happen more than a week to the Presidential Elections, what shall we expect during or after the elections? Is this a sign of what to expect or a dress rehearsal of a repeat of 2011 Post – Election Violence? This is a wakeup call to the Federal, State and Local Government Authorities,especially the Security Agencies.

“The Christians in the North, particularly the Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri speaking Christians, who are indigenous in these States and live within and among their kith and kin are in serious jeopardy.”

Oyedepo, who recently spoke about the forthcoming elections in Nigeria, gave a sneak-peep into what will happen as elections draw nearer.

As religion continue to infiltrate politics, a Ghanaian pastor, Apostle B.B. Frederick had also made his own revelations known concerning the 2015 elections and what will happen to President Goodluck Jonathan.