KILLERS OF EUNICE OLAWALE MUST FACE THE CONSEQUENCE- FCT CAN Tasks Security Operatives

 

Rev Dr Israel Akanji,

CAN FCT Chairman

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Federal Capital has asked the security operatives to unmask the killers of the late Eunice Olawale murdered in Kubwa last weekend with a view to making them to face the full force of the law.

Mrs. Olawale was truly brutally murdered on Saturday morning, July 9, 2016 when she went out on early morning preaching by some unknown assailants suspected to be religious extremists but the Police have not succeeded in unmasking those responsible.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in his office, the chairman of the FCT CAN, Rev Dr Israel Akanji made the call where he recalled the tragic event and cautioned the government and the security operatives against allowing some religious extremists from making the Federal Capital, the centre of unity, a hostile environment to Nigerians.

According to him, “the circumstances of the killing of this woman is worrisome as it could be interpreted as disallowing the right of speech and worship which the constitution defends. And that while such an act is condemnable anywhere in the country, it is most to be abhorred in Abuja, being the symbol of Nigeria’s unity”.

The CAN FCT then made eight points declaration directed to the Federal government and the security operatives even as it appealed to the aggrieved people to avoid taking the law into their hands.

The eight points declaration are as follows:

“That the circumstances of the killing of this woman is worrisome as it could be interpreted as disallowing the right of speech and worship which the constitution defends.

“That while such an act is condemnable anywhere in the country, it is most to be abhorred in Abuja, being the symbol of Nigeria’s unity.

“That this action in an evil encroachment on the peace which has existed in the FCT. We believe that this woman went out on her normal morning preaching as the peaceful environment had always allowed. To have been preaching at such a time was an assumption of safety which she was convinced of. If there was no peace, she would not have been preaching as she did on that fateful day. There is the need to nip this unacceptable behavior on the board so that it would not infringe on the peace which has existed in the FCT.

“That the government must act convincingly about this occurrence to show that it is strongly unacceptable

“That acts of brutality like in this case, if not immediately firmly checked, could escalate in frequency, intensity and sophistication.”

The leadership of the FCT CAN also declared:

“That our speech is not just to cover what has happened, but that government must put all things in place to ensure that there is no reoccurrence of such.

 “That those who are said to have been arrested as suspects must be convicted if found guilty and

“That those who wickedly take the lives of others should always be made to face the full force of the law”.

The CAN Chairman who was surrounded by other officers of the organization cautioned the aggrieved Christians against ungodly reaction to the unfortunate avoidable tragedy.

His words, “We wish to appeal for calmness to all our Christian faithful on this matter. Several zones of CAN have called to seek permission for protests against what happened. We wish to appeal to all aggrieved people to allow the peace of God to reign in their hearts and on this situation.

“Although we are yet to see our FCT Minister on this matter, I wish to assure all aggrieved people, particularly Christians, to put on hold any action. We strongly believe that the FCT Minister and all the security agencies will ensure that such a reoccurrence is averted. Christians should also know that in all circumstances, the Bible enjoins us to keep loving our neighbours as ourselves and doing good to all”

The text of the address: 

 PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE BRUTAL MURDER OF LATE MRS. EUNICE OLAWALE

BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (CAN), FCT

DELIVERED BY FCT CAN CHAIRMAN, REV DR ISRAEL AKANJI, FAR

Reports came to us on Saturday evening, July 9, 2016, that one Mrs. Eunice Olawale was murdered in Kubwa in the early hours of that same day as she went for early morning preaching. Because Kubwa is within the Bwari Area Council, we immediately called on the Chairman of CAN in that Area Council and asked him to verify the information we received. Our CAN officers in the Area Council swung into action immediately and finally gave us a summary report, exerpts of which include:

1.    That Mrs. Eunice Olawale was the wife of the Parish Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Divine Touch Parish, Off NEPA Road, Bazango F14, Kubwa, Abuja.

2.    That the family confirmed to our Bwary Area Council CAN Executives that Mrs. Eunice Olawale was truly brutally murdered on Saturday morning, July 9, 2016 when she went out on early morning preaching.

3.    That Mrs. Olawale had regularly gone out for early morning preaching for several years before she met with a gruesome termination of her life.

4.    That when the Chairman of the Bwari Area Council heard of the killing, he visited the family of Mrs. Eunice Olawale.

5.    That the Chairman of the Bwari Area Council immediately called on traditional rulers, security agencies and religious leaders for a meeting in his office in which he affirmed that government was highly displeased with the occurrence and utterly condemned such dastardly misbehavior.

6.    That there was no security report as at the time of the meeting to show who was responsible for the killing of the woman.

7.    That the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kubwa Zone expressed great displeasure at the occurrence and requested to carry out a peaceful demonstration to express their condemnation of the “Barbaric act of wickedness”

8.    That the Bwari CAN prevailed upon the Kubwa Zone of CAN not to take any actions because the government of the Area Council was already involved in handling the case.

9.    That the Bwari CAN condemned the wicked act carried out on Mrs. Eunice Olawale in strong terms.

Upon getting the report of the Area Council CAN, the FCT CAN Executives visited the family of Pastor Olawale in Kubwa on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 and confirmed all the information earlier received.  In addition, FCT CAN gathered as follows:

1.    That Mrs. Eunice Olawale was survived by 7 children and her parents who live in Ilawe-Ekiti

2.    That Mrs. Eunice Olawale had been engaged in early morning preaching since many years ago

3.    That the G.O of the Redeemed Christian Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the wife of the G.O, Mama Adeboye, the wife of the Vice President, Mummy Oshinbajo and several clergymen had visited the affected family

4.    That some of the children were not at home as they were in school writing exams with heavy hearts.

5.    We also found many people in the compound commiserating with the family.

6.    That Pastor Olawale actually demonstrated courage and prayed for those who killed his wife to come to repentance

7.    That as CAN, the first needful thing we saw to do was to pray with the family and ask God to take over the irreparable loss.

Having paid our condolence visit and prayed for the family, FCT CAN resolved to make the following statements:

1.    That the circumstances of the killing of this woman is worrisome as it could be interpreted as disallowing the right of speech and worship which the constitution defends.

2.    That while such an act is condemnable anywhere in the country, it is most to be abhorred in Abuja, being the symbol of Nigeria’s unity.

3.    That this action is an evil encroachment on the peace which has existed in the FCT. We believe that this woman went out on her normal morning preaching as the peaceful environment had always allowed. To have been preaching at such a time was an assumption of safety which she was convinced of. If there was no peace, she would not have been preaching as she did on that fateful day. There is the need to nip this unacceptable behavior on the board so that it would not infringe on the peace which has existed in the FCT.

4.    That the government must act convincingly about this occurrence to show that it is strongly unacceptable

5.    That acts of brutality like in this case, if not immediately firmly checked, could escalate in frequency, intensity and sophistication.

6.    That our speech is not just to cover what has happened, but that government must put all things in place to ensure that there is no reoccurrence of such.

7.    That those who are said to have been arrested as suspects must be convicted if found guilty.

8.    That those who wickedly take the lives of others should always be made to face the full force of the law.

In conclusion,

We wish to appeal for calmness to all our Christian faithful on this matter. Several zones of CAN have called to seek permission for protests against what happened. We wish to appeal to all aggrieved people to allow the peace of God to reign in their hearts and on this situation. Although we are yet to see our FCT Minister on this matter, I wish to assure all aggrieved people, particularly Christians, to put on hold any action. We strongly believe that the FCT Minister and all the security agencies will ensure that such a reoccurrence is averted. Christians should also know that in all circumstances, the Bible enjoins us to keep Loving our neighbours as ourselves and doing good to all.