The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said the display of a banner with the inscription ‘Jesus Christ is not God’ by the Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos is frivolous.

The banner went viral over the past few days after a photo of it was shared on social media by citizens who felt it was deliberately done to agitate Christians.

After an outcry on social media, the banner was removed and replaced with another one which said ‘Allah is the lord of Jesus.’

When our correspondent contacted the CAN Director on National Issues and Social Welfare, Apostle Commodore Abiola Ayuba, he said the association will not join issues with those behind the banners, describing them as faceless.

“CAN does not involve in frivolous and annoying things. Whichever mosque it is in Lekki, whoever are the people that own it, they have their names and are also liable under the law. Where the rights of one person end is where another person’s own starts. I do not think CAN would be interested in that kind of controversy. If you put something up that will breach public peace, it is the duty of the police to make sure that it is taken off,” he said.

Ayuba further stated that those behind the banner could be sponsored, adding that “nobody knows who is sponsoring them and for what intent and purpose.”

He said when it is obvious that a body, agency or group is behind an action targeted at annoying Christians or getting them upset to the extent that they will cause trouble, “we have links to responsible government agencies and we’ll file our protest accordingly. Sometimes we just keep silent over some things, especially when they appear very foolish.”

Ayuba cited an instance in April during Easter when the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) posted on their X handle that ‘Jesus has paid your debt but not your tax.’

He said CAN responded directly because it was coming from a government agency “and we felt it was done in bad fate and that they won’t dare say that concerning the other faith. Mere mention of the name Muhammad, they will just slaughter you.”

He lamented that a lot of foreign actors are determined to disrupt Nigeria, adding that they are being paid to cause trouble and destabilise the country and also distract the government from governance.

“Most of them are being sponsored by organisations that are linked to terror groups. Journalists should find out more about the people behind all of these because the religious organisations are very clear about relationships with others,” he said.