The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Muhammadu Buhari has re-affirmed his commitment towards ensuring that
Nigeria remains a multi-religious state where every individual is free
to practice his or her religion of choice.
Speaking at what Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, President of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of Nigeria christened an “Episcopal” Town Hall
Conversation with representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
Nigeria, General Buhari stated that although he had been severally and
consistently vilified and maligned, he had no personal religious agenda
and neither would he support any moves by anybody or group of persons to
either Christianise or Islamise Nigeria.
In his speech titled “One Nation bound in Freedom, Peace, Unity and
Love”, Buhari, who was accompanied by his running mate Pastor Yemi
Osinbajo, the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council,
Governor Rotimi Amaechi and a host of other members of the party’s PCC,
stressed he “will not condone any initiative that seeks to promote one
religion over the other.”
Earlier in his welcome speech, Bishop Kaigama, who is also the
Archbishop of Jos, said that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria
believes in the unity and progress of this country and regretted the
wide communication chasm that exists between the leaders and the people.
He hoped that the conversation was an indication of the willingness to
establish a sustainable communication platform.
In a series of boisterous exchanges, the Bishops variously expressed
their concern with the falling education standards in Nigeria, wide
spread corruption, violence in the polity, insurgency and the worrisome
security situation in the country, amongst others.
Reacting, General Buhari traced the cause of these challenges to
unemployment. In his view, “in a country where a large percentage of the
younger generation is unemployed and where no immediate respite is in
sight, these challenges are prone to abound. Give them self improvement
opportunities; offer them a view of a greater tomorrow and all these
will be in the past.”
Buhari assured that his government will pursue a well planned
agricultural programme in conjunction with development of the rural
areas to exploit the multiplier benefits of agriculture, empower
citizens and curtail rural-urban drift. He also stated that the solid
mineral exploration and exploitation would be given a boost to generate
employment.
On fighting corruption, General Buhari maintained that “we already
have laws and institutions empowered to fight against corrupt practices.
All we need is the will to activate these structures and utilize them
appropriately.”
He further stated that Nigeria’s potential for greatness will become
evident again and be more appreciated not long after he steps into
office.
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Title : I have no Islamist agenda, Buhari tells Catholic bishops
Description : The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muhammadu Buhari has re-affirmed his commitment towards ensuring that ...
