|By Chinwendu Nwani
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of betraying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite what it called his “generous favour” toward Christians in federal appointments.
MURIC’s criticism followed reports that former US President Donald Trump had reinstated Nigeria on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged genocide against Christians.
In a statement issued by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic group faulted some Christian leaders for allegedly feeding the United States with what it described as false narratives about religious killings in Nigeria.
“Despite vehement denial of Christian genocide by the Nigerian government, US President Donald Trump yesterday redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern,” Akintola said, describing the decision as “blurred, misplaced, and distorted.”
He insisted that the move misrepresented Nigeria’s reality, blaming certain Christian leaders for promoting divisive claims abroad. According to Akintola, CAN amplified unfounded allegations instead of correcting them.
“It will be recalled that some Christian leaders had written frivolous petitions to the US Congress, claiming that Christians were the only ones being killed by terrorists in Nigeria. Instead of debunking this, CAN simply amplified it,” he said.
Expressing disappointment, MURIC said it expected CAN to act with more responsibility, given its influence and national standing.
The group also argued that President Tinubu had demonstrated goodwill toward Christians, citing reports that more than 60 percent of federal appointments went to them.
“CAN’s action is a stab in the back, considering President Tinubu’s preference for Christians in appointments, favours, and privileges over and above his Muslim brethren,” the statement read. “The president himself confirmed that 62% of all appointments went to Christians. The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, was even more generous to them than Father Christmas.”
MURIC described the alleged petitions to the US as “the mother of all betrayals,” accusing those behind them of disloyalty to both the President and the nation.
“President Tinubu does not deserve this,” the statement concluded, alleging that while the US might have political motives, some Nigerians were complicit in misrepresenting the country to foreign powers.
