Sam Adeyemi: Debating semantics of Christian killings in Nigeria insensitive

Sam Adeyemi, senior pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, says it is insensitive to debate the semantics of Christian killings in Nigeria. 

He also warned that military action in Nigeria by the United States will further worsen the country’s security challenges. 

The minister was reacting to the recent designation of Nigeria as ‘a country of particular concern’ by US President Donald Trump over the alleged persecution of Christians in the country and the threat of military action.

Speaking during a news conference to mark the church’s 30th anniversary on Thursday, Adeyemi said if the US intervenes in Nigeria’s security challenges, the result could be “messy”.

The cleric noted that for Nigeria to develop and address its security challenges, it needs an honest conversation about where the country needs to go.

“It is open knowledge that some of the people that support the killing of Christians are powerful,” Adeyemi said. 

“Some of them are at the highest levels of government. And some of them are wealthy. So, it is not something America will throw bombs on the ground, and it will disappear.

 “At the end of the day, they will go and we will still have to sit down and have a discussion.

“It may seem like, oh, we are divided along tribal lines. Those are not really issues in our country. The big issue is, do we want this country to become a developed economy? The countries from which they brought the religions have developed economies.”

Adeyemi stated that Nigerians have missed Trump’s message by dwelling more on whether there is a Christian genocide or not, adding that it is a question of semantics. 

“It will not be contested, because the evidence is everywhere,” he said.

“It is on the internet. The pictures are there. The numbers are there. So, we should not argue over what should or should not be called a genocide. It does not reduce the impact of the loss of life.

“Especially the members of the families of those who have been killed. Some of them in very gruesome manners. We should not be so insensitive as to be arguing over semantics.”

He argued that the US interest in the killing going on in Nigeria stems from its belief in the sanctity of human life, adding that some Nigerian victims of terror reported the issue to the American government. 

“We should ask ourselves: do we value human life in our country to the extent that we will now be arguing whether the English word we used is correct or not?” he asked.

“We have left the main issues. What is the value of a life in our country? Why should people be killed like that? That then gives us the bigger picture.

“The fact is that people are being killed everyday in our country for reasons for which they should not die. 

“So, we cannot contest the fact that so many people who are being killed are Christians.”

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT, ELITE

The Daystar founder challenged those in government and the elite to move beyond success and embrace significance. 

This, he believes, will leave a lasting positive legacy that will outlive them. 

“Where do we want Nigeria to go? That is the challenge I would throw to all Nigerians,” he said. 

 “To those in government, especially the elite class, all of us need to agree that there is a culture that does not value human life. A culture that does not believe in the intrinsic value and the equality of human life.

“Our culture does not believe it. It is a culture where the powerful are very powerful and the powerless are very powerless. And the life of the powerful is more valuable than that of the powerless.

“And some of us in the elite class are making decisions that are wasting human lives. 

“I challenge those of us in the elite class. After we have enjoyed all the power and the wealth, we will die. What is the legacy we want to leave? 

“In some parts of the world, they refer to people who have gone ahead with pride. What will we say about you after you go? That you made money? That you lived in good houses?  

“We must move beyond success. We must move to significance. We must move to legacy. Positive legacy.”

He insisted that Nigeria must be restructured in a way that every citizen will have access to opportunity to dream and fulfil their dreams.  

Adeyemi challenged Nigerians to speak up and hold leaders accountable across all walks of life. 

“I call on the average Nigerian also. As long as you keep silent, those who do not mean well will continue to be stronger in government, and your children, your grandchildren, may have it even worse than we have it now,” he advised. 

“We should not all sit down and watch this country disintegrate. Speak up and do the little bits that you can do. Hold leaders accountable.

“They are not God. Hold us accountable and ask for development, policies, infrastructure, and decisions that will make it possible for this country to develop.  

“And the biggest of them is love. And love, in my view, is recognition of self-restraint. The value of a human being.

“Every human being is created in the image of God. Whatever you would not give God, do not give to another human being. If you are going to serve another human being, serve them with excellence.”