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Tag: Christians

  • Stop lying, Christians not persecuted in North, Sultan cautions CAN again

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, on Thursday faulted claims by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other Christian leaders that Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the northern parts, are being persecuted and denied certain privileges because of their faith.

    The Sultan’s position was, apparently, in response to recent prayer protests by CAN and Catholic Bishops against what they perceived as deliberate attempts by state and non state actors to eliminate Christians in northern Nigeria.

    Speaking at the first quarterly meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) meeting in Abuja, the Sultan expressed concerns over the level of sincerity and commitment by members of NIREC to religious peace and tolerance in Nigeria.

    He said: “It pains me when we gather at NIREC or other meetings and agreed on measures that would promote religious peace, unity and tolerance. But shortly after, you will begin to hear stories of persecution here and there.

    “If we go out shouting, marching, dancing and singing that people of a particular religion are being persecuted and killed, you also forgot people of other religions are also affected in the killings by same enemies of the state.

    “We must not allow terrorists to come in between us and divide us. If we mistakenly do, then we are finished. There is nothing wrong with any religious organisation marching on the street to call for God’s interventions in a particular issue. But we shouldn’t make show of such things because we want to be visible and therefore bring more problems to the nation.

    “We have been reading and hearing reports about persecution of Christians in Nigeria and I keep asking myself, how? Christians are being killed, Muslims are also being killed and they are all lives created by God.

    “For me there is no persecution of anybody in this country. If you claim there is persecution of Christians in Nigeria, there would also be claims of persecution of Muslims, but that would not solve the problem.

    “People claim they are denied places to build Mosque, Churches in some parts of the country. But the right thing to do in such case is to approach relevant authorities and not to make claims of persecution.

    “I can quote from now till the next 100 years, of things that have been done or not done to Muslims, but we usually approach relevant authorities in ways that we believe would bring solutions to the problems”.

    Also, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, insisted there was nothing like persecution of Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the north, as claimed by some religious leaders.
    He, however, appealed to religious leaders to be properly guided in their utterances and not to make statements that would incite the people against themselves.

    He reminded them of their positions as religious leaders with massive influence and loyalty from Nigerians, appealing to them to use their positions to preach peace and unity among Nigerians irrespective of religious belief.

    He said: “Nigeria has recently experienced several challenges including a spike in banditry, insurgency, kidnappings, killings and drugs abuse. It’s time for review of approach and strategy for improved result.”

    The SGF however, reminded them that no religion, community or business will be speared if Nigeria goes up in flames.

    He insisted on joint efforts by both religions to strengthen peace and unity in Nigeria.

  • Christians using Amotekun as cover up to dominate South West – Sharia Council

    Christians using Amotekun as cover up to dominate South West – Sharia Council

    The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria has reacted to the establishment of Amotekun, a security outfit it claimed was a subtle plot by Christians to dominate the South-West region of the country.

    Speaking to newsmen in Osogbo, Osun State’s capital, the Muslim group’s Vice President Sheikh Abdurrasheed Hadiyatullah alleged that the affairs of the Christian-dominated State Police Force was designed and determined from the Church at the expense of the Muslim majority in the region.

    He added that the Amotekun program is viewed as a subtle method of further Christianization of the Southwest by its promoters.

    Hadiyatullah said; “The Amotekun program is viewed as a subtle method of further Christianization of the Southwest by its promoters in their usual manner of having political and power dominance over the Muslims in the region.

    “It is another elusive way of establishing a ‘Christian-dominated State Police Force whose affairs would be designed and determined from the Church at the expense of the Muslims majority in the region.

    “Provision of effective safety for lives and property of the people at any point in time is a collective responsibility one that is devoid of any iota of elements of religious, ethnic and primitive bigotry; a type of garment that Amotekun presently but unfortunately wears.

    “Issues of security of the peoples ought not to be premised on the altar of politics and personal interests as doing such would amount to building an empire on mere propaganda and the figment of the imagination of the gullible. It stands to collapse shortly after its creation.

    “Any form of the Christian agenda camouflaged as a Security Outfit, such as the Amotekun, where the Muslims population from the Southwest and in the country at large is viewed as a target is an act of injustice, unfairness, inequality, barbarism, savagery and wickedness taken too far and therefore outright unacceptable and thereby condemned in its entirety”.

  • Andimi: Buhari’s govt colluding with terrorists to exterminate Christians in Nigeria – CAN

    President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle on Tuesday described the killing of Adamawa State CAN chairman, Rev. Lawan Andimi as gruesome, unfortunate and a shame on the federal government.

    Andimi was abducted by Boko Haram on January 2 when the insurgents stormed the community.

    Ayokunle faulted the security architecture of the country, wondering: “What has become of Intelligence gathering of our security agencies? Is this government and the security agencies still claiming that the war against these criminals in religious garments has been won despite all the killings?

    “Is the government sincere in fighting these terrorists or merely paying lip service to the war against the insurgency? Is there any hope that our security is guaranteed under this government?”
    A statement issued by the Director, Legal and Public Affairs, CAN, Evangelist Kwamkur Vondip said: “The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle and indeed the entire CAN leadership and the Nigerian Church are deeply saddened with the news of the gruesome murder of Rev. Lawan Andimi the CAN Chairman Michika Local Government Area and the District Church Council Secretary of the Ecclesiya Yan’uwa a Nigeia (EYN) Church in Michika, Adamawa State.

    “We recall sadly that Late Rev. Lawan Andimi while in captivity made a passionate appeal to the leadership of his church and the Federal Government to come to his rescue. The Church did everything within her reach to secure the safe release of this pastor gentleman but it was not possible because they didn’t have the military power to do so.

    “Just last Sunday, a clergyman, Rev Denis Bagauri was murdered by unknown gunmen in his residence at Mayo Belwa of Adamawa State. The Church views the unabated kidnappings, extortions and killings of Christians and innocent Nigerians as shameful to the government that each time boasts that it has conquered insurgency”.

    CAN said It was reprehensible and saddening that each time the government comes out to claim the defeat of the insurgency, more: “killings of our people are committed. In the light of the current developments and the circumstantial facts surrounding the prevailing upsurge of attacks against the church, it will be difficult for us to believe that the Federal Government under President Mohammadu Buhari is not colluding with the insurgents to exterminate Christians in Nigeria bearing in mind the very questionable leadership of the security sector that has been skewed towards a religion and region!

    “Is that lopsidedness not a cover up for the operation of the insurgency? If not, why couldn’t the well equipped security agents of Nigeria get this man killed rescued?”

    The religious body further urged the federal government to ensure the release of the prisoner of faith, Leah Sharibu and hundreds victims in the Boko Haram and ISWAP captivity before it is too late.

    CAN said: “A government that cannot protect the governed is a failed government. Can the government tell us what they did since Rev. Andimì cried out to them for help?

    “If the security agencies claim the terrorists are operating outside the country, why is it possible for these hoodlums to invade the country, kill, maim, burn and kidnap without any convincing checks on the part of the security agencies?

    “Since the government and its apologists are claiming the killings have no religious undertones, why are the terrorists and herdsmen targeting the predominantly Christian communities and Christian leaders?

    “If the security agencies are not living up to the expectations of the government, why hasn’t it overhauled them with a view of injecting new visionaries ones into the security system?”
    CAN said as long as government continues to live in denial and fail to face the reality: “these criminals will not stop their criminalities. We are almost losing hope in government’s ability to protect Nigerians especially Christians who have become endangered species under its watch”.

    Ayokunle called on the International community and developed world like the US, the UK, Germany, Israel and others to come to: “our aid of Nigeria, especially, the Nigerian Church so that we might not be eliminated one by one.”

  • Celebration of Christmas unbiblical – MFM’s founder, Olukoya cautions Christians

    Celebration of Christmas unbiblical – MFM’s founder, Olukoya cautions Christians

    General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr Daniel Olukoya, says the church does not celebrate Christmas because it is unbiblical.

    Speaking at the Wednesday Manner Water Service which coincided with the 2019 Christmas celebration at the Church’s Headquarters in Lagos, Olukoya says no book in the bible recorded the word ‘ Christmas’ or that Jesus was born on Dec. 25.

    “If you really study the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, there is no word like Christmas.

    “The Bible only recorded that the Shepherds were taking care of their flocks during a very cold season when they sighted the star that announced the birth of Jesus Christ. This cold period could be around April or May,’’ Olukoya said.

    According to him, Dec. 25 is a date originally set aside by the ancient Romans for Mars festival by the worshippers of the sun.

    Olukoya said that the birth of Christ was subsequently co-opted into the same date to give the Mars festival more popularity and then renamed ‘Christmas’.

    He warned the modern Christians to stop promoting such unbiblical celebration.

    According to him, the MFM church has decided to henceforth engage members in various spiritual activities during such periods and other public holidays to discourage them from partaking in such unscriptural celebration.

  • Conviction of ex-govs: Is it only Christians that steal? – FFK asks Buhari

    Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, believes that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has only targetted former governors of Christian faith for corruption charges.

    In this post he shared on his Facebook page, he wondered if it is only Christians that are stealing.

    His post comes days after a Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced ex-Abia state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, to 12 years imprisonment for N7.1billion fraud perpetrated while he was governor of his state.

    He wrote: “Every former Governor and key former public office holder that has been CONVICTED of corruption since Buhari came to power from Jolly Nyam to Joshua Dariye to Bala Ngilari and now Orhi Kalu is a Christian. Make of it what you will but that is a fact. Is it only Christians that steal?

  • Crucified to the world- Femi Aribisala

    By Femi Aribisala

    The angel says about Jesus: “He will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). But if you were to ask Christians how Jesus saves us from our sins, you would get a confused silence. Or they may tell you he saves us from eternal damnation in hellfire. But even if this hellfire exists, we are not in it now, so how can we be saved from what we are not experiencing in the here and now?

    Answer me this: if there is neither hell nor life after death, would Jesus still have come to save us? Yes indeed! In order for Jesus to save us from our sins, he has first to save us from this sinful world. Jesus came: “that he might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” (Galatians 1:3).

    Thereby, God: “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.” (Colossians 1:13). In effect, Jesus saves us from this world.

    Salvation from Egypt

    In the Old Testament, the Israelites were saved from Egypt, but did not seem to understand this. They thought God only saved them from their enslavement and oppression in Egypt. However, God’s salvation went far deeper than that, otherwise God could have killed off the Egyptians and left the Israelites in Egypt.

    No! Through Moses, God saved the Israelites from Egypt and all that was Egypt. He saved them from Egyptian life, from Egyptian culture; from Egyptian way of thinking; from Egyptian norms and values; and from everything Egyptian.

    However, the Israelites did not appreciate this. They had no problem with the Egyptian lifestyle. As a matter of fact, they would have readily accepted to become the rulers of Egypt. Therefore, they soon despised the manna God gave them for food in the wilderness and longed instead for the delicacies of Egypt.

    They asked: “Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” (Numbers 11:3-6). They did not appreciate that they were saved even from the cucumbers and leeks and onions of Egypt.

    In the end, they wanted to go back to Egypt. Thereby, they despised God’s salvation.

    Salvation from the world

    Egypt is a type of the world in which we now live. In which case, God also saves us from the world and from all that is in the world. While in the Old Testament, God sent Moses to take the Israelites physically out of Egypt; in the New Testament, he has sent Jesus to take us spiritually out of the world.

    Rightly understood, Jesus saves us from everything in the world. He saves us, for example, from fashionable jeans. He saves us from Mercedes Benz. He saves us from chieftaincy titles. Accordingly, Paul admonishes the redeemed: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).

    Because we are saved from this world and from everything pertaining to this world, John also admonishes us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:15-16).

    Therefore, if you are a believer and you understand God’s salvation, there would be a difference between the way you were dressing before you met the Lord, and the way you are dressing now. You would not dress according to the fashions of this world, but: “modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10).

    There would also be a difference in the books you read now; in the friends you have, and in the films you watch. You would be dead to the world and to yourself. You would lose all interest in sin and worldliness. You would no longer love yourself.

    You would stop lavishing money on yourself. You might even stop buying the things you like and stop eating the food you like to eat. You would stop being the centre of your universe. You would stop celebrating your birthday. Instead, you would deny yourself, carry your cross and follow Jesus. (Matthew 16:24).

    World of difference

    A child of the kingdom would not live the same way as a man of the world? Neither would he talk the same way as a man of the world. He would also not have the same concerns as a man of the world. That was why Jesus was angry with Peter: he held on to the vainglories of the world:

    “(Jesus) turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” (Matthew 16:23).

    You are not married, and it is a big deal. The focus of your prayers is about getting married. You feel everybody is getting married except you. You say: “God what about me? What is happening to me? Why am I left out?”

    The problem is not that you are left out or that God has forgotten or forsaken you. The problem is that your soul is still not saved. You are sold on the world. You are still impelled and motivated by the demands, fashions and desires of the world.

    God needs to take you on a wilderness experience in which you will be single and will think nothing about it. He needs to take us on a wilderness experience in which we are broke but think nothing about it. He needs to take us to that place where we are no longer distressed by shortcomings defined by the world system.

    Paul says: “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13).

    Where did he learn this? He learnt it at the feet of Christ. He learned it at the school of the Holy Spirit.

    But if we are sold on the world, we will fight God like the Israelites did in the wilderness. If we are mindful of the things of men and not of the things of God, we will despise God’s salvation. Therefore, Esau despised his birthright because he was hungry. The Israelites wanted a king so that they could be like everyone else in the world.

    In both cases, they opted for the carnal and temporal and rejected the spiritual and the eternal.

    TO BE CONTINUED

  • Advent is here – Francis Ewherido

    By Francis Ewherido

    The 2019 advent season started this week, last Sunday, to be specific. The word Advent in its simple form means the arrival of a notable person or event.

    Even at that, it captures the essence of the season. Advent is derived from the Latin word, adventus, which means, coming.

    It means we are expecting a very important event, Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In addition, it reminds us to live in constant expectation of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Advent also means the coming of Jesus into the hearts of Christians on a daily basis. But our concern today is essentially the preparation for the commemoration of the birth of Christ.

    The Advent season is often marked with the Advent wreath and four candles representing hope, love, joy and peace. In other words, for many Christians, we are in a season of hope, love, joy and peace, and how much we need these four companions. One of the major ingredients that separates the living from the dead is hope. Without hope, though you breathe, you are as good as dead. Wikipedia describes hope as “an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large.”

    It is hope that is making life meaningful for many people today, not their present state, but hope for a better tomorrow. And their hope is not misplaced.

    Hope and determination made that young boy from a very wretched background take his studies very seriously over 40 years ago. Hope and determination made him to endure in school when he could barely feed and buy school materials. Hope and determination pushed him to working hard and getting good results. Hope made him leave his homestead for greener pastures after his youth service.

    Hope kept him going during the days of little beginnings. Hope, determination, faith, hard work and focus have taken him to the zenith where he is today. This is a very irritating message in the ears of many young people. The situation is hopeless as far as some of them are concerned.

    But hope may look blurred, it may be delayed, it may look like it is non-existent, but it is there. We are in a season of hope. No matter how bad your situation is, keep hope alive. Do not let your situation drain your hope. Without hope, you are deflated and finished.

    The second candle represents love. It is very difficult to talk about love because the word has been so bastardised, it now has many meanings. But during Advent, we talk about selfless and unconditional love. This is the kind of love that made Jesus to come down from heaven to assume the nature of man, except in sin. This selfless and unconditional love is what is being demanded of us this season, and effectively, always. It is difficult, but Jesus already did what none can do, so that kind of gives us the lofty heights to which we should aspire.

    At a time in my early 30s, I felt a void in my life. In the attempt to fill it, I joined a group in the church. One of the first things that struck me was that many members of the group were not well educated; some were also “poor,” but they seemed so happy. I kept wondering how people in that state could be happy. It did not make sense to me. Over time I found that joy is of God and they were just joyful serving God. Joy is a gift from God and can manifest even when times are tough. It does not rely on material accomplishments only to be present. In fact, it is more of a spiritual manifestation. You must begin to find joy in the little things of life: waking up to a brand new day, doing physical exercises, having a cup of cold water (why not?) in this hot weather, taking a walk in the evening, having your young children run to you to say welcome when you get back from work or an outing, fixing a cup of tea/coffee, having a good laugh with family or friends, taking a breath of fresh air; all those little things in life that we take for granted.

    Unless you can find joy, happiness, fulfilment and contentment in these little things, you will not find joy, happiness, fulfilment and contentment in ownership of a private jet, Ross Royce, mansions in Asokoro or Banana Island. There will always be a void and longing. Joy flows from within and manifests without, not vice versa.

    Finally and closely related to joy is peace. In a way, joy means inner peace, that peace that surpasses all human understanding. When you have inner peace, chances are you are going to be at peace you’re your family and the outer society. That is what the season is supposed to engender, that is what we are supposed to strive for.

    Advent comes with some practices. The most common in Nigeria is setting up the Christmas tree and Christmas decorations. Last Saturday, my wife formally set up the Christmas tree before I got back from an outing. I had told her earlier to set it up after a popular bank lit up Victoria Island, Lagos, with Christmas decoration, but I was overruled. She insisted we must wait for Advent and did I have any choice?

    I do not know how to set up the Christmas tree and I did not want to encourage my daughter, who knows how to set it up, to disobey her mother; not when she is right. But thank God the wait is over. I love Christmas trees and Christmas decorations. Like food seasoning, they light up life and the environment, they paint a glorious picture of life and do we need that temporary uplifting in this part of the world?

    WORLD’S AIDS DAY

    Also, last Sunday was World Aids Day. Since 1986, when the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in Nigeria, we have come a long way. The initial steps were wobbly, but much has been achieved, especially since the NACA (National Action for the Control of HIV/AIDS) arrived the scene. NACA says HIV/AIDS prevalence has dropped to 1.4 per cent of the population from 2.8 per cent a few years back. This is good news. But I am worried that awareness creation is not as intense it was in those days.

    I do not know the prevalence rate among age groups, but I hope the younger ones, with hotter blood, coming up are aware of the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Our fleshy lusts and human weaknesses notwithstanding, let us always remember that mutual fidelity and abstinence remain the best antidote against HIV/AIDS.

  • Buhari congratulates Jos Imam who saved over 200 Christians for receiving U.S. award

    President Buhari has expressed delight at the International Religious Freedom Award conferred on Imam Abubakar Abdullahi of Nigeria by the U.S. Department of State.
    On behalf of the Federal Government, President Buhari heartily congratulated Imam Abubakar on the well-deserved honour by no less a credible and formidable government agency of the United States.
    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, believed the recognition bestowed on the 83-year-old Muslim cleric is towering and befitting for the patriot who risked his own life and that of his family on June 23, 2018 to save the lives of hundreds of Christians, fleeing from attacks by suspected bandits in Yelwan Gidin Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
    Like Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said, on May 30, 2019 at the State House Abuja when he received the Imam, the Village Head, Damafulul Mangai; community leaders and a delegation from the US, UK and European Union, the cleric ‘‘has done so much to promote peace by his singular act than most politicians could do and deserve all the commendation and high honour.’’
    President Buhari is, therefore, elated that a Nigerian national has written his name in gold in the international arena and his deeds will resonate wherever and whenever there are discussions on religious tolerance, cordiality between Christians and Muslims in the country and around the world.
    The President recommended the sterling virtues of Imam Abdullahi to all clerics, in particular, and Nigerians in general.
    He also strongly affirmed the commitment of this administration to freedom of religion and worship for all Nigerians, as guaranteed by the Constitution.
    He stressed that under no circumstance will any religion or faith be imposed on the nation.

  • Nigerian Imam who rescued over 200 Christians wins US award for religious freedom

    The Chief Imam of Nghar Village, Abdullahi Abubakar who protected over 200 villagers during attacks on Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau in June 2018 has emerged one of five International Religious Freedom Award winners, the US State Department announced on Tuesday.
    The award is being given for the first time ever during the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom on Wednesday.

    According to the State Department, the Ministerial aims to reaffirm international commitments to promote religious freedom for all and focus on concrete outcomes that produce durable, positive change.

    “A broad range of stakeholders will convene to discuss challenges, identify concrete ways to combat religious persecution and discrimination, and ensure greater respect for freedom of religion or belief,” the Department noted.

    Recall that the 83-year-old Imam last year made headlines for his act of bravery in the face of death. He single-handedly rescued 262 Berom Christians by hiding them in his mosque and house in June last year when over 400 hoodlums on motorcycles and armed with sophisticated weapons launched a bloody attack on 10 villages in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State.
    They went from community to community on a killing spree and the gruesome attack left 84 people dead.
    However, the swift action taken by the chief imam of the community who hid some Christians helped in reducing the number of causalities.
    TNG reports that the U.S. Mission in Nigeria had earlier honoured Abubakar for his rare act of bravery and kindness.
    The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington awarded the Chief Imam with Ambassador’s Peacemaker Award for Heroism at an interfaith dialogue organised by the embassy in June in Abuja.
    Symington urged the world to emulate Abubakar’s act of brotherliness which he described as a virtue of kindness to promote global peace.
    The ambassador also advised mankind to love each other and let the idea of one family take the centre stage.
    “Abubakar’s act of brotherliness raised hope of a cohesive society in the face of growing mistrust.
    “Today, there is only one word that matters and that is perhaps, love. Or perhaps, one more word, family.
    “With the lesson of this Imam, Chief Imam, this Village Head, this Deputy Imam, and all of those who brought you this story, is a lesson not just for Nigeria, but for all mankind – one family, one race, one love,” Symington stated at the occasion.

    TNG reports that other IRF award winners include; Sudanese human rights activist Mohamed Yosaif Abdalrahan, Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud of Cyprus, Ivanir dos Santos of the Commission to Combat Religious Intolerance in Brazil, and William and Pascale Warda of the Hammurabi Human Rights Organisation in Iraq which the couple set up in 2013.

  • FG clears air on allegations of ‘persecuting’ Christians in Nigeria

    FG clears air on allegations of ‘persecuting’ Christians in Nigeria

    The Nigerian Government on Thursday repudiated claims by a group styling itself as Northern Christian Elders Forum, who alleged that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is practicing bigotry and alienating Christians.

    The response by the Nigerian Government, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, is contained in a letter to the British Parliamentary Group, signed by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to UK, George Adetola Oguntade.

    He said “Two letters were addressed to Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, a former secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and now Head, “Independent Review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Support of Persecuted Christians, “and Baroness Berridge, the Chair of “All Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief. ”

    In the correspondences, he said, the Nigerian government strongly dismissed as inconceivable and outrightly false, allusions to the effect that the Boko Haram terrorism served a government agenda against Christians.

    “It would be useful for me to engage with this process to ensure that you are thoroughly briefed on the situation in Nigeria, “High Commissioner Oguntade wrote in the correspondences.

    Responding to the interim report on Foreign and Commonwealth Office Support for Persecuted Christians, Oguntade, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, told Rev. Mounstephen: “The safety and security of all Nigerians, whatever their faith, is a fundamental priority of the Buhari Government. The government knows that Nigeria can only achieve its potential if there is religious tolerance and cooperation.”

    The High Commissioner explained that President Buhari’s deputy is a Pastor, adding that the President “has befriended Church leaders and church groups both within and outside Nigeria.”

    He added that the President’s cabinet is balanced between Muslims and Christians, noting that he himself was a former Chancellor of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

    According to Justice Oguntade, Vice President Osinbajo has maintained regular contacts with Christian and Muslim leaders as part of efforts to build and sustain interfaith dialogue.

    Stressing that the country’s security challenges had no ethnic and religious colourations, the High Commissioner said the farmers/herders clashes predated the Buhari administration, noting that such clashes bordered on the desire for pasture by the herders and the desire to protect crops from encroachment and destruction by the farmers.

    Oguntade explained that these clashes had a long history and the Buhari administration is taking a major step to address the root cause of these crises and violent clashes pitting Muslim and Christian farmers alike against the herders.

    According to the High Commissioner, “the issue of grazing routes is historically central to these conflicts and the Buhari administration is taking a holistic approach to the matter with a view to ending it once and for all, so that Nigerians can live in peace with one another.”

    He, therefore, assured the international community that the Buhari Administration would ensure that “the competition over scarce land is resolved peacefully for the benefits of all parties.”

    The Nigerian government also rejected attempts by the reporting group to link Boko Haram terrorism with official policy, stating clearly that the violent acts by the terrorist group predated the Buhari administration, like many others that were inherited on coming to office in 2015.