FG denies persecuting Christians — In a letter to British parliamentary group

The federal government on Thursday rejected claims by the Northern Christian Elders Forum which recently accused the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari of marginalising Christians.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement said the federal government’s response was contained in a letter to the British parliamentary group, signed by George Oguntade, Nigeria’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

According to Shehu, the fedral government, in the letter, denied the allegation that the Boko Haram insurgents were used to fight Christians in the country, describing the claim as “inconceivable and outrightly false”.

The letter read in part, “It would be useful for me to engage with this process to ensure that you are thoroughly briefed on the situation in Nigeria.’’

“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 went on to state that Buhari’s cabinet is balanced between Nigeria’s two main religion and that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is a pastor, adding that the president “has befriended church leaders and groups both within and outside Nigeria.”

He further expained that Nigeria’s security challenges had no ethnic and religious colouration, noting that the farmer/herder clashes predated the Buhari-led administration.

He said Buhari’s administration had taken major steps to address the root cause of the crises pitting Muslim and Christian farmers against the herders so that Nigerians can live in peace with one another.

On Boko Haram, the High Commissioner said that the terror group is a murderous death cult which does not descriminate between Christians and Muslims in their muderous campaign.

He said,“Since the Buhari administration has been in power, Boko Haram has been significantly degraded – with the support and assistance of the UK Government.

“We shall not rest until this mission is completed and the people of North East Nigeria – both Christians and Muslims – can live in peace again.”