Buhari dismisses talk of religious bias saying he meets with Christian leaders regularly

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed claims that his government is biased when it comes to matters of religious faith pointing out that he regularly meets up with Christian leaders from across the country to exchange ideas.

 

Yesterday, President Buhari he hosted some Islamic clerics to break the Ramadan fast at the presidential villa in Abuja and used the occasion to call on religious leaders to intensify prayers for a better and progressive Nigeria. He also said at the event that his administration to faith-blind as it considered all Nigerians equal before the law.

 

President Buhari said: “Before the Ramadan I met our Christians brothers, from all over the country and we exchanged ideas with them. We realised that the country’s problem is our problem and nobody will solve it for us.

 

"We pray very hard to God, we work very hard and let us continue that way. If we have problems, this is the only country we have as this is where God put us and we have to stay here and pray many times per day for Him to guide us so that we can leave a better country to the next generation.”

 

He also called on the religious leaders to continue to preach the virtues of peace, tolerance and understanding among their followers to ensure speedy transformation of the country. Speaking on behalf of the clerics, the chief imam of Zone Three of Juma’at Mosque, Tajudeen Mohammad, reiterated their determination to continue to pray for peace and the rapid development of the country.

 

Of late, President Buhari has been accused of religious bias, with certain Christians saying his decisions favour Muslims over Christians. President Buhari has also been accused of ethnic bias in his appointments, with critics saying he has favoured northerners over southerners and has refused to crack down on certain northern miscreants like Fulani cattle herders who roam around the country armed with AK47 rifles.