President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to religious tolerance, dismissing claims of bias against Christians or any other faith in Nigeria.
He emphasized that he is not a religious bigot, stressing the importance of rising above religious divisions for the country’s development.
This assurance came during a meeting with a delegation from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, where Tinubu underscored the need for unity and mutual respect among people of different faiths.
Tinubu, who spoke at a meeting with the Catholic Bishops at the Presidential Villa on Friday said he was fully aware of the hardship Nigerians were facing but declared that ongoing economic reforms were necessary to build a stronger nation.
His comments come against the backdrop of allegations by the United States of America of targeted killings of Christians in the country.
He said: “Yes, removing the fuel subsidy was hard, tough for me, but it’s a hard choice that Nigeria must face. We are not going to bankrupt our country.
“We were spending the investment of the future of our children yet unborn; We were spending their rights, and poverty has no religious basis. There is no religious colouration, no identity. It affects all, and we must fight it together.”
On security, the President said his administration was achieving some levels of success in tackling insecurity, which he pointed out, affects both Christians and Muslims.
“This insecurity, everyone is affected, Christians, Muslims alike. I have no religious bias; I won’t be a bigot. My wife is a pastor of Redeemed Christian Church.
“But we have to think of our country; this country must develop and must stand beyond religious bigotry. And I’m here open to you, ready to listen. We have been together for some time. We have an open-door policy. I will not shut my door,” Tinubu also said.
On the bishops’ request for the return of mission schools taken over by the government, Tinubu said such decisions are under the purview of state governments.
He recalled that when he was governor of Lagos State he returned mission schools to the owners.
Speaking earlier, the leader of delegation, Dr. Lucius Ugorji congratulated Tinubu on his election and acknowledged the challenges posed by his economic policies.
He called for more efforts to restore public confidence, improve security, and ensure religious harmony.
“Your government’s policy mantra is anchored on the principles of Renewed Hope. In this regard, we are pleased to inform you that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has declared this year as the year of hope, the Jubilee Year of Hope, a theme we adopted for our conference.
“We came with the final fruits of our deliberations and will share them with you,” Ugorji, who doubles as CBCN President and Archbishop of Owerri,said.
They also urged the government to stop funding religious pilgrimages, arguing that public funds should be redirected to pressing national needs.
“The government should allow religious groups to take full responsibility for organising pilgrimages. In their current structure, the national and state pilgrims’ boards serve neither their adherents nor the broader interest of the nation.
“You are undoubtedly aware of the instances of corruption that have led to the removal of some board executives to ensure greater efficiency and accountability,” Ugorji said.
In a related development, reacting to the report of the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee alleging persecution of Christians in Nigeria, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala,said the US report lacked proper context and was not reflective of the current situation in Nigeria.
“The administration of President Bola Tinubu promotes religious tolerance. Since May 29, 2023, when President Tinubu assumed office, there have been little to no cases of persecution of Christians anywhere in the country,” Bwala wrote on his X handle.
“The administration of @officialABAT President Bola Tinubu promotes religious tolerance . Since May 29th 2023, when President Tinubu assumed the office as president, there have been little or no case at all of persecution of Christians anywhere in the country.
“Secondly, while we are in no way admitting or authenticating the report of the US Foreign Relations Committee, it is noteworthy to state that the committee’s report falls short of context and timelines.”
He further emphasized that the Tinubu administration remains dedicated to fostering peace and coexistence among all religious groups in Nigeria.
“President Bola Tinubu remains committed to promoting peace and religious tolerance.”
Also reacting, the Acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the report was intended to influence foreign governments, especially the United States Government, to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), due to the violence against Christians.
Nigeria, he said, remains a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation and the government remains committed to protecting the lives and properties of all citizens, irrespective of faith, ethnicity, or gender.
He said: “While the Federal Government acknowledges the security challenges confronting the nation, it is imperative to clarify that these negative activities are not driven by religious bias, nor targeted against any particular religious group.
“It should be noted that the majority of incidents relating to insurgency and banditry that occur in the predominantly Muslim northern part of Nigeria are not targeted at followers of a particular faith or religion. Any narrative that seeks to give such incidents a coloration of religious persecution is erroneous and misleading.
“Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation and the government remains committed to protecting the lives and properties of all citizens, irrespective of faith, ethnicity, or gender.
“The security issues in Nigeria are complex and multifaceted and manifest as criminality, terrorism and communal clashes – including farmer/herder confrontation, that do not have any religious connotation.
“The government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken significant steps to address these security concerns, including the deployment of security forces, intelligence gathering and community engagement initiatives.
“Indeed, the military has recorded substantial gains in curtailing the activities of bandits and insurgents. To bring an end to such security challenges, both the Federal and State authorities have embarked on kinetic and non-kinetic methods and expedited the implementation of the national livestock plan.
“To this end, a Ministry of Livestock Development has been established while a Special Adviser and Coordinator of Livestock Reforms, has been appointed to find sustainable solutions to pastoral farming, with a view to end contestations over land, between farmers and pastoral herders.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, therefore, urges the international community to exercise caution and verify information before drawing conclusions or making statements that could exacerbate tensions within Nigeria.
“We call on all stakeholders, including the media, civil society organizations and foreign partners, to refrain from spreading unverified claims that could undermine national unity and stability.”
It added:“Nigeria remains a beacon of religious tolerance and coexistence in Africa and is committed to preserving this heritage. We welcome constructive dialogue and support from the international community in addressing our security challenges.
“However, we strongly reject any attempts to wrongly designate the country, distort the narrative, or sow seeds of discord among our people.”
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