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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to protect every Nigerian, irrespective of their religious persuasions. According to him, Nigerians have the right to practise any religion of their choice without being molested or harassed. He made the pledge during his Christmas message to Nigerian Christians.
Part of the President’s Christmas message reads: “As we mark this year’s Christmas, may the love of Christ and his message of grace, hope, peace, and goodwill to humanity abide with us all. Beyond the celebration and festivities of this season, Christmas reminds us to reflect on the significance of Jesus Christ’s birth and his message of salvation as the Prince of Peace.” He also stated: “On this Holy Day, I wish all Christians in Nigeria and around the world a Merry Christmas. I thank God for the opportunity to serve as the leader of our great country, and I pray for peace in our land, especially among individuals of differing religious beliefs. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us also reflect on the many contributions that Christians in Nigeria, as followers of Christ, have made and continue to make toward the progress of our country.”
The President’s Christmas message is significant, given that Nigeria has suffered so much over religious crises and intolerance in recent years. There are reports that many Christians are unduly targeted for violence, especially in the Northern part of the country. Churches have been burnt and Christians killed in large numbers. The tragic fate of Christians in the country has attracted the attention of the international community especially the United States of America.
Donald Trump, the US President, has on several occasions warned that his country was concerned about the violence meted against Christians in Nigeria. However, many observers have reiterated the fact that Nigerians of all faiths and religious persuasions are also affected by the killings. In his commitment to protecting Christians against terrorism and extremism, the US military, in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, carried out air strikes on terrorists cells in Sokoto State on Christmas Day.
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Other world powers have commented on the incident with Israel showing sympathy to the Christian cause in Nigeria. Although President Tinubu had been criticised by the US government for not showing enough commitment to protecting Christians in Nigeria, his Christmas message and resolve to protect all Nigerians is reassuring and timely. However, he must ensure that religious intolerance is curtailed in all parts of the country. Tinubu’s Christmas message demonstrates his new resolve to protect Christians and adherents of other faiths. He must keep his promise.
Since the Trump administration has designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern, President Tinubu must do everything within his powers to ensure that people of all faiths are protected. The insecurity in the country is apparently escalating since the joint Nigeria/US attack in Sokoto State. That is why the perpetrators of such heinous attacks must be ruthlessly dealt with forthwith. While the president’s Christmas message sets a re-assuring pace for a secure religious community, his words must be matched with commensurate actions. The Christmas message must not be a political rhetoric or a mere promise. The world is watching Nigeria.
To ensure the safety of all Nigerians, the security agencies must be repositioned for the onerous assignment. It is disturbing that the last presidential directive withdrawing police officers from protecting influential individuals has not been fully implemented. Police officers still protect high-profile individuals and people of means. We urge the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure that the presidential order is obeyed. In addition, let our troops in war zones be adequately equipped and motivated for the tasks ahead. No doubt, the use of drones and other high precision weapons would enhance the capability of our troops to overcome the rampaging terrorists.
The recent collaboration of our military with the US army should not be a one-off intervention. More of such attacks in other theatres of the war against the terrorists will go a long way in decimating them. The war against the terrorists must have a definite timeframe to end. It should not be interminable. We urge the federal government to decisively deal with the terrorists and other criminals troubling the citizens.
