The Presidency on Friday rejected the new levels of misrepresentation in the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Religious Freedom Report on Nigeria.
The Presidency, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said the President and Government of Nigeria thanked members of the United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Religious Freedom or Belief for their report, launched a few days ago.
Shehu added that although it was difficult reading, the statement also acknowledged the importance of accurate, unbiased, depoliticised and truthful information “when it comes to understanding the realities and addressing the challenges for those of faith in Nigeria.”
He said when uncritical attention was afforded to critics with dubious intentions, “it only becomes harder for both the government and people of Nigeria to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the differences and uphold what is enshrined in the constitution and laws, that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”
Shehu further stated that it was clear for all to see that there had, for generations in Nigeria, been tensions between the major religions, Christianity and Islam and between herders and farmers both for access to ever-decreasing arable and farmland due to a rapidly rising population, temperatures and desertification through global warming.
He said exacerbating those tensions, the nation had also been, in recent times and focused within the northern states, subjected to vicious and criminal attacks by the terror group-Boko Haram.
The Presidential spokesman explained that Nigeria’s military, in concert with American and British allies, had pushed back the terrorists and largely reduced their capacity over the last five years compared to the previous decade.
Shehu said Boko Haram had targeted Christians and Churches specifically because “they know it drives forward religious and land tensions already existent in the country.”
He said they also attacked mosques and Muslims in order to issue the threat, radicalise, or become targets.
Shehu added that in the months and years ahead, the President who is Muslim and Vice President who is an evangelical Christian pastor, “are irrevocably committed to addressing these multiple and long-term challenges for today’s and future generations.”
He said this included, continuing and increasing Nigeria’s efforts alongside the allies to fully defeat and finally finish Boko Haram, in order to bring security to the north of the country.
According to him, “(we are) continuing to seek, negotiate for, and secure the return of all those held hostage and in captivity by the terrorists, regardless of the religious faith or belief.”
He said such a programme of uniting the nation through dialogue organised around respect for differences in religion was already underway under the leadership of the Vice President, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo.
He pointed out the effort ar addressing, through Joint Federal and State Governments programmes, access to arable farmland – with land mandated both for farmers and herders.
According to him, the federal government would issue detailed measures regarding this plan and its rollout in the coming weeks
Shehu also stated that government was countering fake news particularly on social and digital media by working with the non-partisan stakeholder community, the National Broadcasting Commission and social media platforms themselves, to address the proliferation of false and inflammatory commentary.
He said the President and Government had and would at all times work with those both within and without Nigeria – with a concern for the rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
“In this regard, we look forward to welcoming members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group to our country to see for themselves the work that is going on to promote these fundamental rights of our citizens,” he said.
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