The Nigeria Christian Professionals in Politics(NCPP) has expressed shock at the recent outburst by former Kadunna State Governor, Malam El Rufai on the All Progressives Congress’ Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the last general elections, describing it as alarming and offensive, which is capable of inciting religious violence in the country.
In communique issued by the group and signed by its Director of Strategic Communication and Publicity, Prince Olayemi Olanitori, at the end it’s meeting held in Abuja on Thursday and made available to the newsmen, the group said it received the outburst with rude shock and disbelief.
NCPP cautioned that such outburst could cause sectarian violence in the country if not managed.
The communique reads inter alia: “The Nigeria Christian Professionals in Politics we’re in rude shock and disbelief about the comments made by the former Kaduna State Governor Malam El Rufai on the purported Islamization of Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu-led government.
“Our trepidation is connected to the inauguration of permanent Islamic rule in Nigeria through an Islamic alliance between Muslims in the North and the Southwest.
“His insinuation that a permanent Islamic rule is to be established through an alliance between Muslim communities in the North and South is deeply concerning, as it’s a suggestion of a process of forcing Christians in Southern Kaduna to submit to Islamic rule.
“These comments are alarming and offensive, potentially inciting religious violence in Nigeria.
“The former Governor of Kaduna State, unravelled that Islamic government and Jihad were inaugurated in Kaduna during his tenure to promote Islam and to wage war against Christians of Southern Kaduna until they surrender to Islamic rule and accept Islamic rulership as a way of life.
“He stressed that after a few more tenures of Muslim rulers in Kaduna State, the Christians of Southern Kaduna would be dealt with continuously until they surrender without further resistance to Hausa Fulani rule in the state.
“Besides the above fearful statements of El Rufai, he expressly stated that after a few more Muslim-Muslim Presidency, what is happening in Kaduna will be replicated in Nigeria. He further reiterated that the Christians and Peter Obi were shamed in this last presidential election.
“The above pavement for the dastard acts against the innocent souls that are found in opposite faith of the agitator of Islamization of our dear country should be condemned in totality fig in the name of religion if we are indeed held together by the spirit of oneness and led by the ideology of equanimity.
“We have come to profile our displeasure over the comments credited to Malam El Rufai as such could stimulate religious violence and erupt unrest in our nation we all trying to build to christen our best home eventually.
“Federal Government and security agencies must intervene without much ado before we start writing on the state of the impasse in Nigeria, where ethnic, tribal, and religious catastrophes will follow suit. We have established undiluted confidence in anticipation of Mr. President as his meddling strategies will stir happiness in the downstream systems of every citizen. In that state, joy and peace will cohabit within our bloodstream and start running up and down our veins after fetching a reliable panacea for nondiscrimination.
“We strongly believe in peace, unity and cooperation between Muslims and Christians in the country and urge all Nigerians to denounce any attempt to divide our people on the basis of their faith.
“We wouldn’t have been bothered by the former Governor’s statement, but the record of violence in some part of Kaduna State got us perturbed.
We have faith that the Nigerian government and security forces will act swiftly to ensure that the values of inclusivity and understanding are upheld throughout the nation.
“It will be thing of joy if Malam El Rufia will be made to make public apology to the Christian community that his speech has given psychology disturbance.
“If Malam El-Rufia refuses to denounce his anti-christianity stance, by retrieving his statement and make a public apology to Nigerian Christians, we will be left with no option than to take legal means to seek for justice in the World Court in Hague.
“Also, we are calling on the Nigeria President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to please don’t consider a religion bigotry to serve in his administration because if he (El-Rufia) find himself in any public office, he will not be fare to Christians in Nigeria while discharging his official functions.”
