The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of betraying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite what it described as his “generous consideration” for Christians in federal appointments.
This comes after former US President Donald Trump reportedly placed Nigeria back on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged genocide against Christians.
In a statement by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC criticised some Christian leaders for allegedly petitioning the US government about religious killings in Nigeria.
“Despite vehement denial of Christian genocide by the Nigerian government, US President Donald Trump yesterday redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern,” Akintola said.
The group dismissed the US decision as “misplaced and distorted,” insisting that the situation in Nigeria had been misrepresented.
“This redesignation is blurred, misplaced and distorted. It is a complete misrepresentation of the true picture on the ground in Nigeria,” MURIC said.
According to the organisation, certain Christian leaders were responsible for Nigeria’s negative image abroad. Akintola accused CAN of amplifying claims that Christians were being targeted, rather than correcting the “false and misleading narrative.”
“It will be recalled that some Christian leaders had written frivolous petitions to the US Congress, claiming that Christians were the only ones being killed by terrorists in Nigeria. Instead of debunking this, CAN simply amplified it,” he stated.
MURIC expressed disappointment in CAN’s response, saying it expected the Christian body to act with greater responsibility given its national influence.
“We are nonplussed by the actions of these Christian leaders, especially CAN, which is expected to know better,” the group said.
Akintola further argued that President Tinubu had shown goodwill to Christians through key appointments and other benefits, noting that over 60 percent of appointments reportedly went to Christians.
“CAN’s action is a stab in the back, considering President Tinubu’s preference for Christians in appointments, favours and privileges over and above his Muslim brethren,” MURIC stated. “The president himself confirmed that 62% of all appointments went to Christians. The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, was even more generous to them than Father Christmas.”
The group described the alleged petitions to the US as “the mother of all betrayals,” accusing those behind them of disloyalty to the President and the nation.
“President Tinubu does not deserve this,” MURIC said, adding that while the US may have its own political motives, some Nigerians were responsible for feeding misleading information to American authorities.
