From Uchenna Ezeadigwe
Awka
The Judaism Fellowship Initiative (JFI), an umbrella organisation of all the Jewish synagogue in Nigeria says Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is threatening the existence of true Judaism in Nigeria by feeding gullible minds with wrong teachings.
Chief Arthur-Regis Odidika, President of Nigeria Community said this at the 10 anniversary of JFI in Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra on Sunday.
Odidika noted that Kanu had become a threat of the true Judaism religious because had embarked on mass evangelisation and conversion which was not part of the Jewish movement more so with erroneous teaching.
While acknowledging that Judaism in Nigeria which is growing organically had experienced influx of a large number of followers of Mazi Kanu who knew little or nothing about the religion, regretted that the IPOB Leader had decided to adopt Judaism, a religion of peace for his separatist agenda and called on the Federal Government to save the movement by supporting whatever measure they adopt to purge it aliens.
“One of the things that borders the Judaism in Nigeria especially JFI, the umbrella organisation of Jewish community in Nigeria is Nnamdi Kanu declaring Judaism as his religion, using IPOB radio to preach and evangelise.
“This is against the practice, the Jews don’t evangelise, the Jews don’t look for converts but by the the activities of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, thousands are trooping into our synagogues with the wrong information.
“These people see Judaism as a militant religion, war religion but Judaism is a religion that teaches love and peace which is why our greeting in Judaism is SHALOM, meaning peace.
“With the influx of IPOB members into Judaism, we now have a problem of making them good convert and also make them to know that the problem of insecurity did not start with President Mohammadu Buhari though it has escalated.
“Kanu’s IPOB is making people to believe that attacks is targeted at the Southern part of Nigeria but the question is who are those responsible for the banditry in Katsina State, Buhari’s home state, and other parts of the North ?
“We need the help of government to help us contain this influx Judaism, we need them to give us the capacity to help us make good convert of these people, “ he said.
Odidika, said the 10th anniversary of JFI was earlier scheduled to hold in Rivers State but was moved to Anambra on the advice of Police Command in the state that IPOB had concluded plans to attack them during the event.
“The Commissioner of Police Rivers State called me on Thursday and alerted me of intel of planned attack by IPOB on JFI in Port Harcourt during the celebration of our 10th anniversary originally scheduled to hold in Elapronwa Obio Akpor LGA of Rivers State.
“I was advised not to hold the event in Rivers State due to security threats from IPOB,” he said.
He said JFI had affiliate membership of 50 synagogues out of over 200 synagogues across Nigeria and was formed to work for the welfare and provide education, health, economic support for members.
