Christians condemn call for Muslim president

Two Christian groups in Nigeria have condemned statements attributed to a former military ruler, General Muhammadu Buhari, urging Muslims to vote against a Christian presidential candidate in the 2003 elections, ‘The Guardian’ newspaper reported on Tuesday.

In separate statements, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), representing 19 northern states, and Nigeria’s Anglican bishops condemned Buhari’s statement and urged President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government to consider it a serious threat to security.

“From all indications, it is clear that some Nigerians, along with their stooges masquerading as religious leaders are still in their game plan not only to Islamise the country but, to dismember it along religious lines”, CAN was quoted as saying.

Anglican bishops, in a statement signed by the head of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Peter Akinola, also condemned Buhari’s “unguarded” utterance. “The statement if true is to say the least grossly irresponsible and unbecoming of a former head of state. It is tantamount to an invitation to divide the country along religious lines,” Akinola said.

Nigeria has been increasingly polarised along religious and ethnic lines since several state governments in the country’s predominantly Muslim north last year began strict application of Islamic or Sharia law.
Buhari, who ruled Nigeria for 20 months after toppling an elected government in 1983, has emerged a strong supporter of Sharia.