Lagos, Mar 18, 2010 — Eminent church leaders in Nigeria yesterday rose in support of Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi's call for the splitting of Nigeria as a solution to the constant crisis in the country.

They however disagreed with Gaddafi on the number of countries that would emerge from Nigeria, saying that Nigeria should be divided into six different nations.

The church leaders also condemned the Amalgamation of 1914 by the British, noting that it has not helped the country.

Gaddafi had told African student leaders in Libya that Nigeria should be divided into two nations to avoid further bloodshed between Muslims and Christians, saying that the partitioning should follow the model of Pakistan which was carved out from India in 1947.

But reacting to Gaddafi's call yesterday, immediate past National Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Joseph Ojo; Presiding Bishop of Church of Rulers International Lagos, Bishop Francis Adeniran and Senior Pastor of Holy Spirit Moving Ministry, Ijeshatedo, Lagos, Pastor Dave Osahon said Gaddafi was not far from the truth.

According to Ojo, the country should not split into two, but into six, saying that he was in full support the Libyan leader's view that the country should be divided.

"I agree with him, Nigeria should be split into six different nations. Gaddafi said the country should be divided into two because of his religious sentiments but the reality is that this nation should split into six different nations.

Any church leader who is saying that the country should not split is speaking through his nose; such a person is saying that because of fear of arrest. The Amalgamation has not helped us at all. In fact it has not helped anybody ", he said.

"What is federal character, federation has no character by the so called federal character, they place nonentities to oversee those who are far better than themselves", he said.

Similarly, Bishop Adeniran told Daily Champion in a telephone interview that splitting Nigeria into Six places would be the best for Nigerians.

He said each geopolitical zone should become a country of its own and be able to control its resources for a lasting peace in the country.

The cleric said splitting the country into two as Gaddafi has proposed would still encourage crisis among the people.

He lamented the level of cheating in the country, saying that the political class has short changed the people for too long.

"I am in support of splitting this nation because there is too much cheating in this country. This country should be divided into six different nations. Those who are benefiting in this country are those insisting that the nation must remain one. We should divide those who are ruling us. There is no way you can deal with evil in this nation because of its size. The unrighteous have been ruling this country", he said.

Osahon in his reaction said without division, that the problems confronting the country would continue, especially the bloodletting in Northern Nigeria.

He contended that religious killing would not stop if the country remains as it is at present.

"It is very clear that we have deceived ourselves in this country for long. Without division, there must be problems. If we don't divide this country, the killing will not stop. So, Gaddafi is not far from the truth. Let everybody go his separate ways and there will be peace. If the country divides, there won't be such groups like Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB),Odua People's Congress (OPC), Arewa Consultative Forum or Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), people will just mind their own ways.

"The Hausas will not let the southerners go because of what they are benefiting from the South every zone should go its separate way for peace to reign", he said.