As
our nation approaches perhaps the most crucial election in our history, all
true patriots are called to deeper
reflection of the basic ingredients that bind the nation together- our
common freedom, peace and unity. This reflection is even more relevant in the
face of the illegal postponement of the general elections – a feat achieved
through various sinister ploys and with the sole aim of avoiding the will and
verdict of the people. In all of these, I feel the urge to communicate my
personal vision and thoughts to the people of our great country, especially on
the question of religion, a sensitive matter for many citizens that has become
the most frequently used tool by the ruling party. This afford me an
opportunity to give my response to the ruling party false propaganda and lies
against my person.
Needless
to say, we must at all times hold the unity, peace and progress of our dear
nation paramount and above all other considerations, especially politics. Those
who deliberately disseminate divisive disinformation and attempt to stoke
primordial sentiments using religion or ethnicity and create fear in the minds
of our people fail the standard of patriotism this nation demands of them and
deserves from them.
The ruling government and PDP have adopted this sad,
divisive and false narratives as their strategy to prevent the inevitable
change that our country and people desire and require. And they have succeeded
in making some of us victims of the tales which they invent, propagate and sell
as gospel truth to gullible listeners, while it is all nothing but a tissue of
lies.
I
would like to solemnly declare that in spite of what our detractors say, I am
not a religious fanatic of any sort and have never been. In my life, I have
never supported extremism of any kind, and nowhere in my record of this nation
can this false toga, political opponents have tried so hard to put on me, be
substantiated. Indeed, it is very unfortunate and I feel extremely sad that I
have to give this type of assurance. My background is in the army, and there is
no doubt that the military is the most integrated pan-Nigerian institution. And
even today, the military is one of the institutions that represents the pride
of our nation’s possibilities in unity. Compatriots from every corner of this
country come together, work and live together, entrust their lives to each
other and integrate their families. It is a military where many of my dearest
friends, from all faiths and part of the country, lost their lives defending
the unity of our nation. That was the military I served in and in that military
it was impossible to be a bigot.
For
me, the issue of religion was, and should always, be a matter of personal
conviction. This personal conviction approach to religion has defined my work
and interactions all my life, including my tenure in office as military head of
state. The religion of all those I worked with was never a factor in their
progress or in what happened to them. All that mattered then, and should still
matter today are competence, integrity and readiness to be fair to all. I was
recently informed that we had a balanced cabinet with key positions such as
finance, energy and defence occupied by Christians. In addition, 11 of the 19
governors I appointed were Christians. My most memorable recollections of subordinate
service was under Christian bosses, the finest our country had then, and among
the most respected today.
Indeed,
one of the best appraisals I received in the course of military career was from
General T.Y Danjuma. Government has no business preferring one religion to the
other. The role of the government is to protect lives and property of citizens
and to respect and protect their constitutional rights. One critical freedom
that every government must strive to protect is the liberty for citizens to
exercise their respective faiths, Christians and Muslims or others, in a lawful
manner without fear or hindrance and to prosecute those who use religion as an
excuse to destroy homes, schools and places of worship. When governments fail
in that duty, they must then assist in the rebuilding of structures including
destroyed places of worship and giving full restitution for lost property. We,
Nigerians are a religious people and the burning of places of worship
constitutes one of the vilest form of abomination to all those who believes in
God. It is the duty of government to protect this important sensitivity.
Let
me state this categorically, that I, Muhammadu Buhari, as an individual, and as
president of this great country by the grace of God, given the opportunity to
serve, have no personal religious agenda. And I will not entertain, consider or
promote the religious agenda of anyone. I will not condone any initiative that
seeks to promote one religion over the other. Neither I, nor my party, or any
member of my team has any desire or plan to Islamise or Christianise Nigeria or
support anyone with such intention.
Although
am a practising Muslim, and I have been so all my life, I have never belonged
to, nor shared the views of, any extremist group. I am not even a cleric. I
believe that religion is personal and private. Many of the people close to me
are not of my religion. My cook and driver for 20years are Christians. Most of
my bodyguards are Christians. Some were killed while protecting me in the
terrorist attack on my convoy in Kaduna. If I have not Islamise these people
who serve under me, how will I Islamise the likes of John Odigie Oyegun,
Ogbonaya Onu, Governor Rochas Okorocha, Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Ameachi or
Proffessor Yemi Osinbajo who is a senior advocate of Nigeria and a pastor? Or
how will I Islamise Nigeria?
Our
constitution, which in many respect, is similar to the American constitution
does not permit a state religion. The sharia identified as Islamic constitution
is almost synonymous with customary law. It is only applicable in matters of
personal status such as marriage, divorce and inheritance. This has been the
case since 1979 constitution. Just as no one can make any customary or any
other religious law, the law of Nigeria. My record is of this strongly held
belief.
Before
my tenure, the deadly and violent extremist radical sect, maitasine carried out
terrorist activities in the north, especially Kano; when it erupted again in Yola
during my tenure, I took direct command, and personally led the successful
effort to eradicate the threat of our country. Similarly when some Chadian insurgents
attempted to occupy Nigerian territory, I led the military confrontation that
eliminated the threat.
For
all purposes, we must all learn to live together as brothers and sisters,
because the problems that bedevil our nation do not discriminate based on
religion or ethnicity.
Poverty
and hunger do not know or respect religion or creed. When a bomb explodes in a
market, it kills and maims without regard for religion or ethnicity. The
millions of the unemployed youth of our country cut across all tribes and
religions.
Wicked
propagandists continue to spread vicious lies about me for political gain,
including claiming that I once asked Muslims not to vote for Christians. This
must be the height of absurdity. How could I ever say that, when whoever voted
for me would be voting for the Christian running with me on the same ticket?
And how could I ever say that of Christians when my own holy book, the Quran,
tells me that in the entire world those that are nearest in love to me are
those who believe in Jesus Christ [AS]? I ask, who, intending to win any
election, ever does that? How can I choose southern Christian running mates
(Chuba Okadigbo of blessed memory, Pastor Tunde Bakare and Pastor Yemi
Osinbajo) and with them by my side make such silly utterances? Because they
have no record, they must seek to destroy our own; and because they have no
integrity, they feel they must impugn our own.
We
must reject those whose propagate hatred, ethnicity, divisiveness, sectionalism
or seek to manipulate our religious differences in such cynical fashion. On our
part, we will remain undeterred: our commitment is to bring about change in the
way we live and think and work in this nation; and our goal is to ensure a
decent existence for all. And, by the grace of God, that is what we will do –
we will remain true to our commitment and we will achieve our goal.
May
God bless Nigeria and its people all the time.
General
Muhammadu Buhari Speech on Religion
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