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By Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Northern Nigeria Christian Youth Association (NNCYA) has urged Christian leaders to avoid public comments capable of escalating political tension after private meetings with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that such engagements should be used to foster peace, national unity and constructive dialogue.
The association said reactions trailing the recent meeting between President Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) had generated unnecessary public controversy, warning that post-meeting commentaries by religious leaders should not become sources of national division.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Bason Sunday, and National Publicity Secretary, Pastor Ruth Wada, the group stressed that while it held Christian leaders in the highest regard, private engagements with the President should remain opportunities for sincere counsel rather than public confrontation.
“We honour our fathers in faith, but when spiritual leaders meet with the nation’s leader, the words that follow should heal, unite and strengthen the country, not inflame passions,” the statement read.
The association described access to the President as a sacred responsibility that should be deployed in advancing peace and the national interest, cautioning that selective public disclosures after such meetings could fuel misunderstanding and deepen existing divisions.
It also urged religious leaders to exercise restraint in their public interventions on national issues, saying the office of the President has access to intelligence and security information not available to the general public.
The group warned against portraying President Tinubu as indifferent to Nigeria’s security and economic challenges, noting that, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he receives classified security briefings that often cannot be discussed publicly.
Quoting Proverbs 18:13, the association urged Nigerians to avoid reaching conclusions without a full understanding of ongoing government efforts to address insecurity and economic challenges.
It further maintained that no single group or institution holds a monopoly on the nation’s conscience, adding that government also receives advice from traditional rulers, community leaders, security agencies, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens.
Calling on clerics across denominations to continue serving as agents of reconciliation, the NNCYA cited Romans 14:19 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2, urging Christian leaders to promote peace and continually pray for those entrusted with the nation’s leadership.
The association also appealed to Christian youths to remain calm, reject divisive rhetoric and resist attempts to turn the pulpit into a platform for political confrontation.
It prayed for wisdom for Nigeria’s leaders and called on citizens, irrespective of political or religious affiliation, to work together in promoting peace, security and national cohesion.
This version is more concise, places the news angle in the lead, improves flow, and reads like a polished national newspaper report while preserving the substance of the statement.
