Pentecostal Arch-Bishop of South- South, Dr. Julius Ediwe, has showered praises on President Muhammadu Buhari for remarkable successes recorded in the war against insurgency and religious tolerance among various groups across the country.
Dr. Ediwe who is also the Grand Patron of the National Inter- Faith and Religious Organisation for Peace spoke on behalf of the group in a press conference on Wednesday.
In his speech titled “Saluting the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against terrorism and religious tolerance in Nigeria”, the cleric reckoned that Christian and Muslim co-existing peacefully regardless of religious and ethnic affiliations over the years is the handiwork of Mr President.
He added that since President Buhari assumed leadership in 2015, the country has become more united and focused amidst the myriads of challenges and evil permutations confronting it.
Dr. Ediwe, on behalf of the National Inter-Faith and Religious Groups, lauded the effort of President Buhari and urged him to continue to do more in the overall interest of the country.
The respected preacher pointed out some critical sectors, such as the “leadership of the Nigerian Military headed by General Gabriel Olonishakin, as well as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, led by Godwin Emiefele”.
According to the clergy, Nigeria never witnessed such transformation as experienced under President Muhammadu Buhari.
Dr. Ediwe, however, urged those that are bent on causing disaffection in the country to support the current administration and spend more time interceding for President Buhari.
Read full address below:
I bring Calvary greetings to you all under the auspices of the National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace in Nigeria.
This press conference could not have come at a better time than now in appreciation of the giant strides of President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that our great country Nigeria is indeed placed on the enviable path of progress as evident in critical sectors in the country such as security and religious tolerance amongst the various religions in the country.
As you may be aware, the National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace are in the vanguard of promoting peaceful co-existence between adherents of the various religious groups in Nigeria. We are more than anything else committed to seeing a united, secure, and vibrant Nigeria that would indeed reflect the dreams of the founding fathers of our great country.
This much has been seen in the way and manner our Christian and Muslim brothers have continued to live as one regardless of our religious and ethnic affiliations over the years.
The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace is highly appreciative of efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari in keeping the country united and focused despite the myriads of challenges confronting it since he assumed leadership of the country in 2015.
We are cognizant of the fact that agents of doom and darkness have been put out of business, and this hasn’t gone down well hence the nocturnal sponsorship of violence in the country through proxies and unorthodox means.
We wish to state that President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in his fight against Boko Haram terrorist group have been outstanding. It is indeed a testament to an unalloyed commitment to leaving Nigeria better than he met it.
The National Inter-Faith and Religious Groups is appreciative of this laudable effort and wishes to charge President Muhammadu Buhari to continue to do more in the overall interest of the country.
The tolerance of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari towards all religions in Nigeria is indeed worthy of note. This is so in the sense that the focus and emphasis have always been merit and competence above religious and ethnic considerations.
This stance of President Muhammadu Buhari is evident in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, such as the leadership of the Nigerian Military headed by General Gabriel Olonishakin, as well as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, led by Godwin Emiefele, to mention but a few.
The promotion of merit above mediocrity and ethnic bigotry in the selection process for critical sectors such as security and the economy is indeed commendable and has seen to the various successes recorded in Nigeria since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed leadership of the country.
The National interfaith and Religious Organizations for Peace wishes to state that the focused leadership as provided by President Muhammadu Buhari has indeed defied all the evil permutations of those against the continued peaceful existence of Nigeria, we say this due to the avalanche of progress that has been recorded in the critical sector of the economy as well as the multiple gains recorded in the fight against terrorism.
This highly negates the evil narrative bandied around by some mischievous elements in the public space attempting to paint President Muhammadu Buhari as a religious bigot and an ethnic champion.
We dare say that in the annals of Nigeria, there has never been a President who has indeed displayed respect and tolerance for our religious and ethnic diversity as President Muhammadu Buhari. This much he has proved to all well-meaning Nigerians in the quality of appointments in critical sectors of the economy.
President Muhammadu Buhari has carried on without fear or favor; he has indeed displayed true statesmanship that is required of any president in a plural country like Nigeria. It would indeed be common sense for those who have been blinded by their selfish interest to see the enormous good the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari has done to our great country.
The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace is indeed a witness to the transformation experienced in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari, and that is why the organization has made it mandatory to always intercede on his behalf in prayers and supplication to God for wisdom, strength and the courage to continue to lead Nigeria on this path of national recovery.
This Press Conference would be incomplete without sending a word of advice to those that are bent of causing disaffection in the country. Even though it is incomprehensible that some organizations under the banner of religion have been propagating falsehood against unity.
These organizations must do well to desist from such enterprise as it is against the preaching of peaceful co-existence, as explicitly stated in the holy books of the Bible and the Koran. They must desist from playing politics under the umbrella of a religious organization to pollute the body of Christ in Nigeria.
The National Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations believe that there is strength in our unity, and as such, we must embrace one another in love and peace. The focus instead should the offering of prayers for the President in his quest to take Nigeria to greater heights. For what shall it profit them to heat the polity unnecessarily with calls and postulations that are unfounded?
They must, as a matter of urgency and sober reflection, spend more time interceding for President Muhammadu Buhari and not to allow themselves to be used by power grabbers that mean no well for the unity of Nigeria. We wish to state that the unity of Nigeria is indeed sacrosanct.
Thank you all, and God bless and keep Nigeria United in Jesus’ Name.
