CAN lambasts Buhari

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has lambasted Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari while describing his statement as false and provocative.

In a statement in Abuja by the National Director, Legal and Public Affairs CAN Evangelist Kwamkur Vondip, said: “The Christian Association of Nigeria notes with pains the President Buhari’s unfounded, false, provocative and misleading assertion that 90% of Boko Haram victims are Muslims. On reading this misleading and provocative statement coming from the number one citizen of the country, one will hardly believe that the President understands the difference between the real victims and perpetrators of the heinous crime against the Church and humanity.

“No wonder the BokoHaram and other terrorists get more FG attention in the name of rehabilitation and de-radicalization than the victims who lost their lives, loved ones including those military officers at war front and those living in communities and the Internationally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps.

“First of all, it’s so disappointing to hear the President trying to justify which religion is suffering most from the grievous attacks of the terrorists. Are we into any competition with the number of the victims? Is there any life that should not be precious to Mr President.

“What is the source of Mr President’s records? He should bring out his records with figures and the Christians will present theirs! Is he calculating the figures of the killed terrorists brandished by security chief as Boko Haram killed at operations?

“We are so sure that even if Mr President combine the number of Muslims victims plus the number of the terrorists killed by the army, it cannot be up to half the number of the Christian victims of the insurgents.

“Now who are the victims? Or why do we know that Christians are the victims? For the purpose of those that are ignorant of happenings in Nigeria. Boko Haram from the onset did not hide their mission and targets.

“From their original name, the video recordings and newspapers reports on their operations confirmed this facts. The sole purpose of Boko Haram is the killing of Christians and Islamisation of Nigeria.

“They clearly stated that they were going to fight both government institutions and Muslims who will not cooperate and support the project. The did not stop in Nigeria but have gone ahead to partner with other international terrorists who share the same objectives with them like the Al-kaida, ISIS and the like”.

The religious body added: “Boko Haram has wiped away all Christian communities in most Local Governments of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe to mention but a few.

“Almost all the Christian Communities in Northern States have fallen victims of the insurgents. What about the repeated attacks on Southern Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, Nassarawa and most of the States of the middle belt?

“On attacks on Mosques and Muslims, it’s true that some Muslims have fallen victims of Boko Haram but those victims are few Muslims who speak against the activities of Boko Haram. I am sure they are not likely to attack Mr President because his statements and that of his aides of recent particularly this one suggest gross compromise.

“On the issues of school girls of Chibok and Dapchi, is it not surprising to Mr President that the Chibok girls who where abducted since in 2014 are yet to be found and return as he promised Nigerians yet the Dapchi girls who were abducted within his regime have since been returned with the exception of Leah Sharibu who was retained because of her faith?

“Nigerians need to know if they have not known the reason why Presidency could not pay ransom to rescue Chibok girls, it is because 80%.

The leadership of the association called on the president rise up to his responsibility of securing lives and properties.