The president and founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has spoken officially on his foiled arrest by the Department of the State Security officials few days ago while on a ministration visit to Ekiti State, Nigeria.
In a video clip that has gone viral on the social media, the servant of God said;
“People, who are going about saying things about me, do not know me. If they know me, in all of those statements, they will apologize. I am a very tolerant person. Again, I have friends as Fulanis, I have members as Fulanis in our Northern Churches. I also want to communicate this because of the Christians who are out with serious zeal to defend this, they need to know what and why they are defend, of course, how they should defend this. The peace of the Nation is also paramount on my mind and I owe this in high esteem.
I have a driver who drives me whenever I am in Lagos, he is a muslim. He has been driving me for years till date. I have bought him two (2) cars as well. If I am not tolerant, a Muslim should not be driving me.
Not too long ago, there was an issue that happened at the Church gate and I called all the security men to my office to address it. While they were talking, I discovered that the Chief Security Officer (of our church) was also a Muslim. Yes, he was a Muslim supervising the security unit our church.
Funny enough, majority of my callers on this issue has been Muslims, they have re-echoed what I said on the tape and do not hold contrary views about it.
I came from a Muslim background. By the Grace of God some are Christians, others are Muslims. Of course, I cannot stop taking care of them just because they are Muslims. One of my aunts who watched us grow but still a Muslim had an accommodation issue. Now, she is not my church member, she does not come to my church, but a devoted Muslim. I just finished building her a house some weeks back.
My anger is directed at the Fulani herdsmen who are killing people.
On this, I will not withdraw my statement and I will not apologize.
This is very clear, I do not mean the Fulani Nation/People/Ethnic Society, I mean the Fulani herdsmen.
I am even happy now that the Governors had on Thursday 26th issued a statement that these Fulani Herdsmen are not even Nigerians but from neighbouring countries. Now, doesn’t this align with my assertion?
Last Sunday, a Pastor from Aviele (a neighbouring community with Auchi in Edo State) came to see me in my office. He came with a video evidence of how Muslims invaded his church, pursued his members out, spread their mats on the floor, took his microphone from him and began to recite Quranic prayers. I even further advised him not to spread the video when I heard it was going viral because it has the potency of inciting violence against Muslims.
If I was a religious bigot as they claim, that would have been enough to react. Even when there were suggestions of leading the youths against them, I stopped it to ensure peace ensued.
I urge Nigerians to always investigate before commenting or reacting to any issue. Our character and mental capacity is embodied in our ability to always investigate properly before taking further actions.
I do not have issues with the Fulani people; I have seen and read of some good people from there. I have also seen extremely nice Muslims. For example, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a Fulani man and also a Muslim. There was a church that was destroyed in his province, he personally rebuilt it.
The Fulani people who are very enlightened understand the intricacies in this matter and most of them have been speaking with me. Whereas the herdsmen who are the perpetrators of this evil are happy with these developments because it has become a religious problem and this is part of my anger.
5 days ago around Afuze in Owan East local government area of Edo State, a woman was raped to death by these same herdsmen.
I have refused to withdraw the statement as people want me to do because I will not withdraw a statement against killers who derives joy in killing innocent and armless people. Even the sincere people in this government are against these killer herdsmen.
I have always warned Christians against unnecessary reactions until a proper investigation is carried out. Christianity is peace. The hallmark of the Christian faith is about peace, progress and development.
There are still real Fulani herdsmen who are nomads and still taking care of their cattle are everywhere. They carry sticks around. But these particular (killer) herdsmen carry guns, sophisticated weapons and the likes.
I have made it clear that my anger is with the Fulani herdsmen and my point is; that no one should lay down to be killed by these people. Only cowards do that.
And I stand my ground that the herdsmen who are killing should be dealt with.
Another group has been trying hard to politicalize the situation, claiming I am of the opposition of this government. Without any fear or favour, I am not a politician and neither am I partisan. As a man of God, I shouldn’t be partisan but standing on the truth for the good of all. Nobody, group or party should use me to score a political point.
I still repeat that this government must go after the herdsmen that are killing people.
I became more angry when I heard that this people are not even Nigerians, so we are been killed by people who are not from here. So am I not justified? Are you saying I should close my mouth to allow outsiders dissipate our people?
I am also in the know that these Fulani herdsmen also attack and kill muslims in the North. So it not a religious matter to this end, it is a concern for all. It is a course that both Christians and Muslims should fight the root cause and win together.
Finally, if the way we have been reacting to the call for my arrest and more is the same vigour and passion we have been against the killer herdsmen, then, it would have long ended.”