Reply from Nigeria
In response to various reports of the alleged role of Archbishop Akinola of Nigeria in the 2004 Yelwa massacre, Canon Akin Tunde Popoola has written on behalf of the Archbishop:
Dear Sirs,Eliza Griswold's recent attempt to demonise the Archbishop of the Church of Nigeria by publishing an article raising issues of religious violence (reported in CT last week) is most unhelpful. As CAN president, one of the challenges the Archbishop faced was that of persuading youthful Christians to stop revenge attacks.
While the very sad ethnic/religious Yelwa incident took place in 2004, his statement about no religion having a monopoly of violence was made in 2006 when Nigerian Christians were being slaughtered because of some cartoons published in Denmark.
About Ms Griswold's article, Archbishop Akinola has commented: "It is a pity that I have again been quoted out of context by the Atlantic Monthly two years after the event and the interview. The incident of the Danish Cartoons started off a crisis in Northern Nigeria. As president of the Christian Association of Nigeria I had to prevail on Christians not to retaliate. If we had not done that there would have been chaos. It was in the context of prevailing on Christian youth not to retaliate that I said what I said"
His statement was made not to encourage violent retaliation from Christian youth, but to recognise the reality of the possibility of such retaliation in the context of extreme provocation.
What is not reported so well, or known so widely is the many efforts that were initiated for peace-making. In February 2007 for example, Abp. Akinola (along with many Anglican bishops) was in the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Nigeria's overall Islamic leader on a friendly visit.( http://www.anglican-nig.org/sokoto_surprise.htm ) Abp. Akinola has not and does not encourage violence but continues to maintain peaceful cordial relationships with every peace loving Nigerian irrespective of tribe, creed or gender.
The Western press should learn from the Danish cartoons saga that articles they publish, whatever the motive might be, can be responsible for the death of many innocent lives hundred of miles away.
Yours sincerely
AkinTunde Popoola
4th March, 2008
Terry Martin at Fr Jake Stops the World notes the shift from the action in question to a later statement. Read it all here.
I don't think this statement comes to grips with the question regarding the 2004 attack. Akinola was president of CAN. Men dressed in a way that suggested identification with CAN killed more than 650 people and maimed and raped many more in what Human Rights Watch describes as a coordinated attack. Akinola is asked about this event two years later and says "No comment."
Did he know something about those attacks before they occurred or not? The statement doesn't say.
Posted by Jim Naughton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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March 4, 2008 9:36 PM
Tunde misses the point. Eliza's article makes it pretty clear that she conversed with Peter in 2006. she asked him about the 2004 Yelwa massacre.
I do recall Peter making a similar comment (no monopoly on violence) during riots incited by the cartoon incident. I was prepared to be charitable, and to consider that to be him saying, please refrain from attacking Christians, because I cannot hope to control them, and violence will spread.
now, I am not so sure he meant that.
in any case, Peter's response, delivered through Tunde, brings up an issue that was not relevant at all during Eliza's interview. Tunde needs to demonstrate precisely how Peter was quoted out of context.
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March 4, 2008 10:55 PM