The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has faulted claims by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other Christian leaders that their members, especially in the North, are being persecuted and denied some privileges because of their faith.
The Sultan was apparently responding to recent prayer protests by CAN and Catholic Bishops against what they called deliberate attempt by state and non-state actors to eliminate Christians from the North.
Speaking at the first quarterly meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) meeting in Abuja, Abubakar expressed doubt about the sincerity and commitment of NIREC members to religious peace and tolerance in Nigeria.
He said: “It pains me when we gather at NIREC or other meetings and agreed on measures that would promote religious peace, unity and tolerance. But shortly after, you will begin to hear stories of persecution here and there.
“If we go out shouting, marching, dancing and singing that people of a particular religion are being persecuted and killed, you also forget people of other religions are also affected in the killings by same enemies of the state. (Text courtesy Nation)