Nobody can impose Islam on Nigeria, says Kumuyi.

The General Overseer of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has dismissed insinuations that certain interests are planning to Islamise Nigeria, saying the will of the people cannot be overruled easily.

Kumuyi, who said this on Thursday in Calabar, Cross River State, also noted that Nigeria was experiencing the worst economic recession in 29 years.

The Deeper Life General Overseer, however, expressed the hope that the country would come out of the current recession, which he also noted had affected the churches.

According to Kumuyi, who was responding to questions on alleged plans to Islamise Nigeria as well as the targeted killings of Christians in the North, imposing a religion on the people of Nigeria will only be possible if the people choose to be docile.

While stressing that the will of the people could not be easily overruled, Kumuyi called for religious tolerance among Nigerians.

He said, “I think it depends on the will of the people. You cannot impose a religion on a country without the will of the people. Worshiping God is a personal thing.

“If I choose my way, so will it be. If a country is said to be going through a process, if the people are asleep and they do not have any conviction, then it becomes easy for another person to impose what he feels he has on you. But the will of the people will not be easily overruled.

“When we say alleged killing, we will need to investigate well. Neither of the two dominant religions in Nigeria – Christianity and Islam – advocate the killing of neighbours. The love of our neighbour is key here and the Islamic religion came in through Abraham.

“So, basically, we are having the same great grand-grandparents. So, we should rethink and understand that it will be good to allow the people to live together in peace and allow them to have their free will to choose how to worship.”

Speaking on the unfolding economic recession, Kumuyi said something must have gone wrong over the years but he was quick to add that the country would come out of it.

Kumuyi, who confirmed that the recession was affecting churches, however, stressed that the house of God would continue to play its role in the society despite the downturn.