The presidency has
reacted to the claim by the Nigerian Christian Association, CAN, that 80
percent to 90 percent of the Chibok schoolgirls in Boko Haram captivity are
Christians.
Recall that
President Buhari on Tuesday also said that the perception that members of the
sect were always targeting Christians in Nigeria is not true.
Former
vice-president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, had since told Buhari that religious
affiliations should not be raised when Boko Haram killings are discussed.
CAN’s Director of
Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Samuel had earlier, in an interview, claimed
that, “Nigerians need to know if they have not known the reason why the
Presidency could not pay ransom to rescue Chibok girls.
“It is because 80%
to 90% of the girls are Christians. The reason why Dapchi girls’ ransom was
quickly paid and they were returned is the discovery that most of the girls
were Muslims except Leah Sharibu who is still in captivity,” he had claimed.
But in statement to
DAILY POST signed by Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, in reaction to CAN’s claim, said, “We are again constrained to react
to unfounded allegations by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) about
the payment or non-payment of ransom for the release of the Chibok and Dapchi
schoolgirls.
“When the media in
August 2018 quoted a United Nations report alleging that the Federal Government
paid a ‘huge ransom’ for the release of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls on
March 21, 2018, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, immediately
disputed the report, insisting that no ransom was paid, “little or huge.’
“According to the
Minister, ‘There must be a piece of conclusive evidence to support such a
claim. Without that, the claim remains what it is – a mere conjecture.’
“And we ask, ‘Who
should Nigerians or CAN rather believe if there is good faith?
“We urge CAN desist
from disinformation which can further divide Nigerians. The letter and spirit
of the Holy Bible do not support discord, which CAN’s allegations are liable to
cause.
“The Christian body
need not be antagonistic to every attempt by the administration to move Nigeria
forward before it can champion or defend the Christian faith.
“President Muhammadu
Buhari made it very clear in 2015 that if ransom needed to be paid to free the
Chibok schoolgirls, he would pay. That is a testament to his commitment to
getting the girls back.
“Notwithstanding our
different faiths, we are all stakeholders in the promotion of peace in our
fatherland. And the Holy Bible enjoins us to, ‘Seek peace, and pursue it.’
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