As controversy over the closure of the children’s wing
of the Villa Chapel located inside Nigeria’s presidential
quarters rages on, fresh facts have been uncovered
on the matter.
On Sunday, our correspondent was given an insight
into the power play that has been going on inside the
villa for weeks by Borno-based Pastor, Kallamu Musa
Dikwa.
Dikwa, it could be re-called made the allegation that
President Goodluck Jonathan gave the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN) the sum of N7billion to
support his re-election bid.
The Pastor, who is also Executive Director, Voice of
Northern Christian Movement, made the disclosure
following an earlier allegation by Rivers State ex-
Governor Rotimi Amaechi that CAN received N6billion.
In a chat on the Villa Chapel saga, he
expressed dismay that President Muhammadu Buhari
was yet to act on the fate of the children’s church
despite the nationwide outcry.
Earlier in the month, presidential adviser on Media and
Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina denied the closure of the
church by tweeting photos from service held on
Sunday, September 6, 2015.
A tweet via his handle, @FemAdesina said: “President
Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) orders Aso Villa Chapel
shut? There is no such thing. It’s only a rumour
spawned by fecund imagination gone into overdrive.
PMB respects freedom of worship.”
However, speaking, Musa Dikwa challenged the
presidency to also release most recent photos of the
children’s church.
“Let them not deceive Nigerians. I can confirm to you
that that section of the church has been converted to a
storage room by Mrs. Aisha Buhari, wife of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
“I don’t want to think that the President authorized her
action, Nevertheless, he should have done something
by now because it is a serious matter.”
Asked to state what items were being kept at the
building, he responded: “I really don’t know, but I was
reliably informed that she brought some items to the
villa and could not get a place to keep them.
“To our dismay, she directed some staff to move the
items inside the children’s church and then ordered it
locked. The security operatives that initially blocked its
entrance did so with her knowledge and I dare her to
publicly deny.
“What my source told me is that Mrs Buhari said the
children’s church is a safer place to keep the items.
This is not right. Why would she insist on that
particular building in a place as big as the villa? Is she
saying there is no other safe place apart from a place
of worship?”
The media had reported that due to the shut, the kids
now use the office of the Chaplain, Pastor Joseph
Sheyi Malomo, for their normal service.
But Musa Dikwa, called on Buhari to take action
immediately to forestall disunity among Christian and
Muslim communities in Nigeria.
“He promised to unite Nigeria; he promised not to
marginalize any religion but what is going on inside
Aso Rock is different.
“People like me that were security risks for throwing
our weight behind President Buhari are now at risk
again because of this action of his wife.
“I have lost count of the number of calls I have received
since the news concerning the children’s church broke
out. While some are threatening me, some are mocking
me that I and others endorsed Buhari who seemed to
have turned blind eye to this act.
“They are saying ‘see the man you said will bring
change, are you seeing what is happening now. We
hope you are satisfied. After all, we warned you but
you didn’t heed our advise.'”
Continuing, the cleric recalled how he told the world
that President Jonathan gave CAN N7billion.
“It is because we were tired of the corruption going on;
we believed in the change mantra. So you can guess
what I am going through in the hands of those who
alleged that Buhari had a hidden Islamic agenda”, he
added.
Musa Dikwa said he, however, believes Buhari will call
his wife to order to avoid further damage.
He urged the president to remember the vow he made
to Christian leaders he met before the presidential
election in March.
The cleric further cautioned Buhari against punishing
Christians for the refusal of CAN to grant him audience
after he made the request in the build-up to the general
polls.
“CAN is a body of Christian leaders, but it doesn’t even
form 0.1 percent of the entire Christian community in
the country.
“Besides, I have the document containing his own
statement. He gave clear assurances and we will hold
him by his words because no religion is greater than
the other,” Musa Dikwa declared.
Mr. Adesina did not take the call by our correspondent,
even as he was yet to respond to a text message to
confirm the true state of the children’s church as at the
time of filing this report.
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