An elder statesman, Alhaji Isa Folorunso Mustapha, has called on the United States government to apologise to the Nigerian government for its statement alleging genocide and claiming that Christians are being killed in the country.
Alhaji Mustapha stated that the American government must provide evidence by releasing a detailed list showing how many Christians were allegedly killed in Nigeria and where the incidents took place, describing the claim as an attempt to blackmail the nation, which he said is unacceptable.
He informed the American Congress that Nigeria is a polygamous society where Christians and Muslims intermarry freely without regard to religion or ethnicity.
According to him, “A topical example is that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, whose wife is a pastor in one of the largest churches in Nigeria.”
In a statement released to the media in Kaduna on Wednesday, Mustapha said, “The history of marriage between Muslims and Christians, including adherents of other religions, dates back over a century in Nigeria, and it has remained so, and this is the beauty of our peaceful coexistence as a nation.”
The elder statesman condemned the remark made by the American legislator, describing the claim as an effort to cause division and incite Nigerians against each other.
He demanded an unreserved apology from both the American government and its Congress for making what he termed an unfortunate statement.
Mustapha pointed out that some Nigerians were allegedly responsible for the negative comments about the country, driven by selfish and narrow interests, and urged such individuals to desist from further acts of sabotage.
In the statement, the elder statesman also referred to those calling for the release of the Biafran agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, as uninformed individuals who failed to consider the consequences of Kanu’s actions against the nation’s unity.
Mustapha stressed that the unity of Nigeria and its citizens is non-negotiable, urging Nigerians to remain united and resist any external attempts to create division among them.
He also commended the Senate for swiftly establishing a 12-member ad hoc committee to advise the legislature on how to address rising international concerns over alleged state-backed persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
