Politics

CAN replies Sultan of Sokoto, says monarch got it wrong on Christians

Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 9:06 AM by Khadijah Thabit

- The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) replies Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, over alleged persecution of some religious faithful, especially in the north

- CAN names some states in the northern part of Nigeria that have experienced attacks on Christians and their property confiscated

- The Christian body describes Sultan Abubakar's comment as an insult when victims of such attacks are known

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, got his comment wrong on the alleged persecution of some Nigerians based on their religion, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has claimed.

Leadership reports that CAN made its position known through a statement by Evangelist Kwamkur Samuel, its national director.

The body said it respects Sultan Abubakar, but that there was need to respond to his reaction on the issue of alleged attacks on Christians.

“It was painful reading from the media the sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar saying that there was no case of Christian persecution in the country where Christians are being killed on daily basis and their landed property confiscated.

Read also

Sultan to CAN: It’s false to say Christians are persecuted in Nigeria

“It would have been better if the sultan had remained quiet the way he did when those killings were taking place," CAN said.

The association argued that hundreds of citizens of the country have been killed by herdsmen in the southern part of Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, Adamwa and Taraba and that the areas mostly affected are those with Christian populations.

"It is an insult and insensitivity for anyone to be claiming that the unprecedented persecution which victims are well known did not occur," CAN said.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar had faulted the claim of CAN that Christians were being persecuted in the country.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

Speaking at the closing ceremony of 77th annual Islamic vacation course (IVC) organised by the Muslim Society of Nigeria (MSSN) at Bayero University, Kano, Abubakar had said: “If such persecution really exist, such is supposed to be tabled at the Interfaith Forum where Muslims and Christians leaders meet periodically to discuss issues that would promote harmonious coexistence between the two religions."