Christian Elders to Buhari: ‘Don’t make Nigeria a satellite state of Saudi Arabia’

The Nigerian Christian Elders Forum, has criticised the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on a number of issues- one of which is the decision of the government to join the Saudi Arabia-led coalition against terrorism.Chairman of the NCEF, Solomon Asemota, while addressing journalists on Friday, accused the present administration of trying to make Nigeria a satellite state of Saudi Arabia.“Including Nigeria in the Saudi Arabia Military coalition of Muslims/Arab nations would appear that the foreign policy thrust of the current administration is to make Nigeria a satellite state of Saudi Arabia. Any nation in which Islamists believe that they are sufficiently strong to exercise influence rarely experiences peace.”

“Mr. President should kindly remember that over 50 per cent non-Muslims of Nigeria did not vote for the nation to become Sharia compliant.”The NCEF said the inclusion of Nigeria in the Organisation of Islamic Conference, OIC, in 1975, as well as its recent inclusion in the Saudi-led coalition was an attempt by Muslim leaders to dominate the country, with the teachings of Islam.

“While Islam is a religion; Islamism, otherwise called political Islam, is a set of ideologies that hold that Islam is not a religion, but a political system meant to dominate the environment in which it is practised.”

Furthermore, the NCEF said the religious bill enacted by the Kaduna State government was shocking.
“We wish to express tremendous shock at the proposed Kaduna state bill. The proposed bill contravenes section 38 (1) of the 1999 constitution.”