Politics
Buhari speaks on Christian girl still in B’Haram captivity as CAN tackles him
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the family of Leah Sharibu that he is going to ensure their daughter is also freed by the Boko Haram terrorists.
The terrorist group had kept Leah Sharibu back when they returned about 104 out the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls they abducted on February 19, to their parents on Wednesday, because she refused to deny her Christian faith for Islam.
At present, she is the only girl still in the hands of the terrorists as five of the schoolgirls were said to have died soon after they were abducted.
Following that development, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ondo State chapter, said it was worried that Buhari has kept silent over the matter, alleging that he is planning to crush out Christianity in the country.
The CAN chairman Ondo State, Rev. Ayo Oladapo, I’m a statement, queried if it is a crime to be a Christian in Nigeria under the President Buhari administration.
He said, “It is painful to note that Leah Sharibu the only girl that still remains with the Boko Haram is said to be the only lady that refused to renounce her Christian faith. With this development, it is clear that the battle is against Christianity. Information has it that the Boko Haram people came into Dapchi town majestically to return the girls
“They claim that they were not aware that the girls were Muslims, hence, they need to return them because they are Muslims. When did it become a crime for a person to become a Christian in Nigeria? According to the girls, they were released because they were Muslims. Is it a crime to become a Christian in Nigeria? President Buhari should tell the whole world.
“It is painful that the government, civil society organization, human rights activists kept mute on the only Christian girl that is still held captive. We, therefore, demand that President Muhammad Buhari and all his security outfits should without delay facilitate the immediate release of Leah Sharibu
“It is becoming clearer that president Buhari’s administration is out to crush Christianity to nothing in this nation, if he is keeping quiet on the only girl in captivity because of her faith in Christ Jesus, no wonder President Buhari is not doing much as expected of him to stop the killings of people in the Christian community by the herdsmen.
READ ALSO: JOIN THE SURVEY: Kidnap, release of 105 Dapchi girls a big scam-PDP. Do you agree?
“Pastor Professor Yemi Osinbajo should not keep quiet as a Christian at this time, we encourage all Churches to please mobilize prayer for the release of Leah Sharibu to rejoin with the parents unharmed. We equally call on the International community to assist in the release of the Christian girl.”
But Buhari in a statement on Thursday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said that he was “fully conscious of his duty under the constitution to protect all Nigerians, irrespective of faith, ethnic background or geopolitical location and will not shirk in this responsibility.”
The statement added, “The President is equally mindful of the fact that true followers of Islam all over the world respect the injunction that there is no compulsion in religion. To this effect, no one or group can impose its religion on another.
“His heart goes out to the isolated parents who must watch others rejoice while their own daughter is still away. The lone Dapchi girl, Leah, will not be abandoned. President Buhari assures the Sharibu family that he will continue to do all he can to ensure that they also have cause to rejoice with their daughter soon.”
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