The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has expressed concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s attendance at the Arab-Islamic Summit held in Saudi Arabia last November, arguing that it undermines Nigeria’s constitutional status as a secular state.
In a statement released on Saturday, the NCEF Chairman, Dr Samuel Danjuma Gani, criticized the President’s involvement in the summit, which was convened by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to address the Middle East crisis.
The summit, a follow-up to the Riyadh meeting of 2023, included leaders from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.
During the event, Tinubu called for an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza.
Dr. Gani pointed to Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution, which prohibits the government from adopting any religion as a state religion.
He argued that Tinubu’s participation could exacerbate religious tensions in a nation already grappling with deep divisions and security challenges.
“Nigeria is neither an Arab country nor an Islamic state,” Gani stated.
“The President’s attendance sends a troubling message that misrepresents the country’s secular identity.
“Rather than fostering neutrality, this action risks deepening the religious divide.”
The NCEF also highlighted ongoing concerns about religious discrimination, particularly in northern Nigeria, where citizens’ rights to religious freedom are often violated by extremists.
The forum called on the government to uphold the constitutional principles of secularity and avoid actions that could inflame religious tensions.
Additionally, the elders attributed many of Nigeria’s challenges to ineffective governance, corruption, and continued attacks on farmers by insurgents.
Dr Gani urged the government to address issues such as the illegal extortion of money by security agents from those transporting foodstuffs, which he said contributes to rising food prices.
The forum also criticized the removal of fuel subsidies by the Tinubu administration, describing it as a policy that has triggered severe inflation and made life increasingly unaffordable for Nigerians.
They called on the President to review the current fuel pricing regime and focus on alleviating the hardships faced by citizens.
“Leaders must prioritize the welfare of the people and act in a way that promotes national unity and stability,” Gani concluded.
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