ADC urges Tinubu to act before ‘Christian genocide’ claim becomes self-fulfilling prophecy

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday said President Bola Tinubu must act to halt further killings of innocent Nigerians, especially Christians, before the “Christian genocide” claims become a self-fulfilling prophecy in Nigeria.

Bolaji Abdullahi, national secretary of the ADC, stated this while condemning the killing and abduction of worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.

The party also berated Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, over his claim that “only 177 Christians have been killed in the last five years.”

According to the party, “We were indeed dismayed by the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in a recent interview, claiming that only 177 Christians have been killed in the last five years.

“We find this statement unfortunate and offensive. And if it reflects the thinking within the Federal Government, such a statement would explain why this government has failed to address the problem and why it cannot be trusted to solve it.”

It warned that the “Christian genocide” narrative, previously dismissed, is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy under the Tinubu administration.

The party further accused the Federal Government of being reactive and defensive instead of confronting the security challenges head-on.

The attack at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, led to the killing of innocent worshippers during a church service, while others, including the pastor, were abducted.

The ADC described the tragedy as “another painful reminder of the pervasive insecurity that has taken roots across the country.

“Coming within hours of another attack in Kebbi State where school officials were killed and students abducted, this particularly brutal attack and abduction gives the impression that this government has lost control and Nigerians now live at the mercy of gun men who are now emboldened by government’s failure to act decisively”.

The ADC said it is “particularly concerned that the Christian genocide narrative, which we dismissed when it was first proposed, is gradually becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy due to the failure of the government to conduct an honest appraisal of the problem.

“We would like to reiterate, deaths cannot be reduced to numbers. It does not matter how many people have been killed or what religion or language they speak. As seen in the video on Eruku church attack, one poor old woman, cut down by bullets while she prays is enough.

“But this government does not know how to take responsibility or how to be accountable. Or else, how can an official of government engage in the wrong-headedness and dangerous race to the bottom argument over which religious group has recorded more casualties in the country.

“Does 117 deaths make this situation more acceptable? Or, does the argument that more Muslims have been killed make it less tragic?

“In addition to the wanton killings, what is shaping up as another great tragedy is the Tinubu government’s defensive mind set and its growing tendency to minimise the scale of this crisis. But the truth is that under this Tinubu administration, Nigeria is fast turning to a killing field, and the President not appear to recognise that his most important job is to protect life.”

The ADC while also describing Nigeria as a bleeding nation, added that “communities are grieving, families are being destroyed, and the government continues to respond with excuses, denial, and dangerous rhetoric.

“The ADC calls on the Federal Government to arrest this growing anarchy before it consumes us all. Nigerians deserve protection, not platitudes. Our houses of worship must be safe, our communities must be safe, our country must be safe.”