Christians Not Persecuted In Nigeria – Sultan Tells CAN

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, says he is shocked by the claim of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that Christians are being persecuted in the country.

Naija News reports that the Christian body backed the inclusion of Nigeria in the list of nations that tolerate religious persecution released by the United States (US).

The Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Samson Ayokunle, CAN president, Adebayo Oladeji, said the US was not blind to the alleged killing and alienation of Christians in key political appointments.

Oladeji also said Christians are the targets of the Boko Haram insurgent group and bandits.

“All the key appointments that are being made since the second term of the President began, follow the same blueprint. These are facts and they are violations of some portions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),” he said.

“It is widely believed that no country survives two civil wars. We, therefore, call on the government to correct the imbalances and not to be insensitive to the new development but instead address all the factors that are responsible.

“It is a fact that not fewer than 95 percent of those who are being detained by the terrorists are Christians and the government has been paying lips service towards securing their freedoms.

“Leah Sharibu is a case study and the only reason why the government that secured the release of her colleagues has not freed her is because of her religion. We wonder why the government has not done the needful to liberate this innocent girl who happens to be a daughter of a Police officer.”

However, speaking at the closing ceremony of the 77th annual Islamic vacation course (IVC) organised by the Muslim Society of Nigeria (MSSN) at Bayero University, Kano, northern Nigeria, the Sultan said CAN’s claim is “false and partial”.

The Sultan of Sokoto said the criminal activities perpetrated by armed “Fulani herdsmen” were not triggered by religion, “because not all Fulanis are Muslims”.

Abubakar said there are Christian Fulanis just as there are Muslims ones.

“If such persecution really exists, such is supposed to be tabled at the Interfaith Forum where Muslims and Christians. leaders meet periodically to discuss issues that would promote harmonious coexistence between the two religions,” Abubakar said.

“Many Fulanis are atheists whose main interest is to protect their cattle.”

In July 2019, the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari also refuted claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is alienating and persecuting Christians.