Osinbajo vows to resign if forced to denounce Christian faith

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says he did not lobby for the position of the vice president and is ready to leave at short notice if he must denounce his Christian faith. Osinbajo made this declaration yesterday at a town hall meeting with Benue stakeholders in Government House, Makurdi over the herdsmen carnage on communities in the state, stressing that his destiny cannot be determined by anyone but by God whom he serves.

This statement came on the sideline of comments made by some stakeholders during the meeting insinuating that he was part of an agenda targeted at eliminating Christians across the country.He questioned the rationale for anyone to back the killing of women and children because he is vice president or he is president, vowing that under no circumstances will he ever renege on his faith.

His words: "The president has not departed from the commitment that he made then. My Lord Bishop, Avenya, you said you are not a politician, I am also not a politician. As a matter of fact I'm also a priest and I'm a Christian, a born again Christian.

"Because I'm a born again Christian, my destiny is not determined by any man but by God who I serve. Let me assure you that under no circumstance, non whatsoever, will I give up my faith or refuse to stand up for my faith.

"You can take that to the bank. Even the position that I currently occupy, I did not ask for it and I'm prepared to leave it at a short notice. It doesn't mean anything."How possible can anyone say that the killing of women and children doesn't matter because he is Vice President or because he is president? How is that possible? Certainly, it cannot be for a person who is born again. A renewed mind will know that there is justice, there is consequence even if there is no justice here on earth," Osinbajo stressed.

The Vice President said there was no question at all that when people are killed in the way people have been killed, whether in churches or mosques or where ever by herdsmen or someone else is justified.According to him, it is the business of government to ensure that there is security for the people.

"Some people have suggested that there is an agenda. I heard the very eloquent words of Dr. Magdalene Dura who said this killing is an agenda."But let me say to you that although, I do not accept that but the only way that we can proof that there is indeed no agenda is to protect the people, it's to fight for justice and to rebuild where there has been destruction.

Earlier, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Most Rev. Bishop Williams Avenya asked the Vice President to exonerate himself from the killings in the country, and to serve as someone who understands the law and one who speaks for justice.

Others who spoke at the meeting include General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), Gen. Atom Kpera, Professor Daniel Saror, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, Terkimbi Ikyange, all calling on the Federal Government to deploy more security to the state to enable IDPs return to their homes and to rebuild the destroyed communities.They also asked the government to direct the adoption of the anti open grazing law of the state as a permanent way of curbing the farmers/ herders clashes among other submissions.
from the Guardian newspaper