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The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of betraying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite what it described as his generosity towards Christians in political appointments and national considerations.
The group’s criticism followed reports that the United States President Donald Trump had placed Nigeria back on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged genocide against Christians.
In a statement signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC faulted some Christian leaders for allegedly petitioning the US government over religious killings in Nigeria.
“Despite vehement denial of Christian genocide by the Nigerian government, US President Donald Trump yesterday redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern,” Akintola said.
MURIC dismissed the US decision as “misplaced and distorted,” insisting that the reality in Nigeria had been misrepresented.
“This redesignation is blurred, misplaced and distorted. It is a complete misrepresentation of the true picture on the ground in Nigeria,” MURIC said.
The group blamed certain Christian leaders for painting Nigeria in a bad light internationally, accusing CAN of amplifying claims that Christians were being specifically targeted by terrorists.
“It will be recalled that some Christian leaders had written frivolous petitions to the US Congress, claiming that Christians were the only ones being killed by terrorists in Nigeria. Instead of debunking this, CAN simply amplified it,” Akintola stated.
MURIC expressed disappointment over CAN’s conduct, saying the association should have acted more responsibly given its national influence.
“We are nonplussed by the actions of these Christian leaders, especially CAN, which is expected to know better,” the group said.
Akintola noted that President Tinubu had shown goodwill to Christians through key appointments and other benefits, stressing that more than 60 percent of appointments reportedly went to Christians.
“CAN’s action is a stab in the back, considering President Tinubu’s preference for Christians in appointments, favours and privileges over and above his Muslim brethren,” MURIC stated.
“The president himself confirmed that 62% of all appointments went to Christians. The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, was even more generous to them than Father Christmas.”
Describing the alleged petitions to the US as “the mother of all betrayals,” the group accused those behind the move of disloyalty to both the President and the nation.
“President Tinubu does not deserve this,” MURIC said, adding that while the US may have its own political motives, some Nigerians were responsible for feeding misleading information to American authorities.