Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that many Christians remain concerned about their place in the country following the departure from the Christian-Muslim presidential arrangement.
This is even as the bishops urged the President to address those concerns through deliberate government policies that reassure Christians of their rights as equal citizens.
The position was contained in an address presented by the President of the CBCN, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, during a courtesy visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
According to the bishops, while they appreciated the cordial relationship between Nigeria and the Holy See, many Christians still have legitimate concerns over inclusion under the current administration.
“This, Mr. President, is a time when many Christians have legitimate concerns about their place in Nigeria, especially regarding the departure from the Christian/Muslim presidency, and we hope that, through deliberate government policies, those concerns will be addressed and Christians will be reassured of their rights as citizens,” the bishops said.
They urged Tinubu to take steps to “soothe frayed nerves” and reassure Christians of their constitutional rights.
Beyond religious inclusion, the bishops expressed concern over what they described as shrinking political space and fears that Nigeria could drift towards a one-party state.
While acknowledging Tinubu’s role in the struggle for the restoration of democracy, they urged him to ensure that elected officials of the ruling party uphold fairness and guarantee a level playing field for all political actors.
The conference also warned that
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