Uproar trails Gov El-Rufai’s comments about Christians

– The Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has accused Governor Nasir El-Rufai of putting one religion ahead of others

– CAN rejects the claim by the governor that Muslims in Kaduna state have a population of 70 percent compared to Christian community of 30 percent

– Says El-Rufai’s comments has the tendency of further dividing Kaduna along religious lines 

The Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has told Governor Nasir El-Rufai to refrain from making statements capable of causing religious and ethnic tensions.

READ ALSO: Kaduna has more gold than South Africa, El-Rufai boasts

Speaking on the backdrop of comments Governor El-Rufai made on Channels TV that Muslims in Kaduna state have a population of 70 percent compared to Christian community of 30 percent, CAN accused the governor of putting one religion ahead of others.

Berating the governor for his claim, the secretary of the CAN in Kaduna state, Rev Sunday Ibrahim rejected the claim by the governor that Muslims have population of 70 percent compared to Christian community of 30 percent, Daily Post reports.

Rev Ibrahim told journalists that the statistics had shown that Christians even have the higher population in the state by five percent.

He said: “It is very surprising to hear that coming from the Governor. What I know is that there are data that could be made available to whoever that cares to see.

“We are very surprised at the statement because the Christian and Muslim population is about 50/50. In fact, some data show that Christians are 55 percent and Muslim are 45 percent in terms of population.

READ ALSO: Anti-preaching bill: El-Rufai will die – Apostle Johnson Suleman

“For the governor to say Muslims have 70 percent population of Kaduna State while Christians have 30 percent is shocking indeed. On what statistics did he base his submission?

The cleric said the handlers of the governor should have verified the claim and saved the governor from the embarrassment he caused himself on a national television, adding that the pronouncement of the governor was untrue.

“His comment has the tendency of further dividing Kaduna along religious line; it could bring cause more problems.

“We urge Governor El-Rufai to henceforth try to verify issues that are very sensitive before voicing such out,” Rev Sunday said.

Meanwhile, the proposed religious preaching bill by the Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has been described by the Student Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria as brash, stating that it would not stand as many groups would challenge its constitutionality in court.

According to The Punch, the movement noted that the Nigerian constitution guaranteed religious freedom, noting that the governor cannot resolve the security and religious challenges in his state through fiat.

Rev. Eric Ighalo, the SCM National President, said this in response to questions from journalists during a news conference on the 75th anniversary celebration of the association on Tuesday, April 5, in Abuja.

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