A video grab image shows a Nigerian pastor "healing" the sick

By Al-Khidr Abdul Baqi, IOL Correspondent

LAGOS, June 19 (IslamOnline.net) – Nigeria ’s authorities banned a series of proselytizing TV programs, which "deceptively" show people with chronic diseases being treated by priests.

The National Authority for Radio and Television, a majority of its board members believe in Christianity, has said in a statement it banned the "Miracle" programs to protect the national interest.

It stressed the decision is by no means targeting the Christian community or certain churches in the country, in a veiled reference to the evangelical church which sponsors such programs.

"We took the decision out of protecting the country’s national interest and media credibility," the body’s chairman, Unuies Okabra, told a recent press conference.

"The authority has only banned deceptive and immoral Miracle programs and is in no way targeting religious programs," he added.

Miracle features Nigerians with chronic diseases, like blindness and paralysis, attending church masses with each one of them telling of his affliction to Jesus Christ through a mediator priest.

At the end of the program, some cases emerge cured from their illness to the astonishment of the attendees. The "cured cases" are said to be pre-arranged with the program’s maker.

Irked

The decision drew ire from many church leaders, who claimed it lay restraints on the spread of Christianity and proselytizing.

Father Osthtol Birail, the founder of Bethel Worship Churches, told Nigeria ’s This Day daily on Monday, June 14, that the Miracle programs are part and parcel of proselytizing.

Archbishop Chris Oyehilomi of Christy Embassy Church , the principal financier of the programs, defended the "cured cases", suggesting medical checks to remove any doubts cast over their veracity.

However, Nigeria ’s Supreme Council of Churches surprisingly declined to comment on the decision.

The silence was interpreted by analysts as a sign of approval to protect the image of Christianity and head off a potential ethnic conflict between Christians and Muslims, as some of the alleged "cured cases" included Muslims.

The secretary general of Nigeria ’s Muslim Scholars Association, Hajj Umran Aboole, regretted that such programs were targeting Muslims with shakable faith and illiterates.

He told IslamOnline.net that Islamic programs, to the contrary, are characterized with simplicity and clear-cut vision.

Muslims make up 55 percent of Nigeria ’s 133 million people, according to official statistics.

But Muslim leaders say the Muslim community represents between 60 and 65 percent of the entire population.

Forty-four percent of the Nigerians believe in Christianity.