President Bola Tinubu has once more refuted claims of a Christian genocide in the country, maintaining that neither Christians nor Muslims are being killed.
The president stated that the country’s insecurity stems from historical, economic, and criminal issues, rather than religious persecution.
He spoke in Abuja on Friday when opening the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society’s 8th Biennial Conference and Annual General Meeting, titled “Building Resilience in a Changing World: The Role of Faith and Community.”
Tinubu, who was accompanied at the occasion by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, stated that Nigeria is fighting terrorism motivated by criminality and fanaticism.
Former US President Donald Trump said a few weeks ago that Christians were being killed in Nigeria and threatened to deploy US military forces if the federal government did not handle the matter.
Trump, who designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” claimed that Christians were being persecuted while the federal government reportedly looked the other way.
His statement sparked outrage both inside and outside Nigeria, causing the Federal Government to dispatch a delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to meet US congressmen and offer a fuller picture of Nigeria’s security concerns.
According to a report by Freedom Online, Tinubu, while speaking at the NASFAT program, said, “In recent times, the Federal Government and other persons of goodwill have had to address unfounded allegations. These allegations are not only false but harmful and capable of inflaming passions and disrupting the peaceful coexistence we continue to build as a nation.
“Nigeria’s response was clear, firm, and measured. We reaffirmed that our nation does not foster or tolerate policies or actions aimed at persecuting any religious group. Muslims and Christians alike have been victims of terrorism in Nigeria. Muslims and Christians alike stand shoulder to shoulder in condemning violence from any quarter.
“As President, I reiterate with all sense of responsibility and fidelity to the Constitution that there is no Christian genocide in Nigeria, and there is no Muslim genocide in Nigeria. What we have is terrorism driven by criminality and extremism—challenges we are working tirelessly to overcome.”
Tinubu added that the Federal Government would continue to promote national unity, religious freedom, and the security of every human life.
“We must, therefore, reject narratives that seek to divide us, whether they come from within or outside our borders. We must not allow internal or external forces to sow discord or promote dangerous stereotypes about our beloved nation,” he added.
Tinubu stated that Nigeria’s strength has always been its diversity and its people’s capacity to coexist while worshipping in different ways.
He praised NASFAT’s role in promoting national unity, adding, “Your teachings on moderation, tolerance, and humanitarian assistance give routes for resolving disagreements and deepening national unity.
“Let us continue to promote moderation, peaceful coexistence, and respect for our diversity. Our differences are a divine design, not a source of conflict.”
