Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of failing to protect Nigerians as enshrined in the constitution.

Reacting to Benue killings and insecurity in the country at a news conference in Abuja, its
General Secretary, Mr Musa Asake said: “President Buhari was elected on a wave of unprecedented public approval in 2015. Unfortunately, within a few weeks of his election, he started creating the impression that he was in power to serve the interests of his Fulani ethnic group only. Discerning people were quick to note that contrary to his electoral promises, he actually meant to pursue core Islamist agenda. Almost every vital appointment in Security and Education went to Muslims from the North. He did not hide his disdain for the indigenous ethnic nationalities and, at every opportunity, showed preferential treatment to the Muslim North.”

But the Presidency discountenanced the claim that the President violated the constitution.

Presidential spokesman, Mr Garba Shehu in a statement said “Our attention has been drawn to reports of a press conference by General Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Mr Musa Asake in which he passed a judgement on the constitutionality of certain actions of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“Unfortunately, he could not cite any valid cases of constitutional violations. President Muhammadu government poses no threat to the country’s democracy and Constitution.

“There are no cases of any violation of our sacred constitution and there will be none under this President.
The respected religious leader should stick to his religious duties and leave politics for politicians.”

Asake said the government had not been able to come up with an efficient and enduring system that could overwhelm the resurgence of Boko Haram, gunmen and Fulani herdsmen “who are prowling villages, shooting and killing innocent Christians. Instead the IG whenever there is killings going on his men on ground in that particular area will be looking the other way and if asked they will say they are waiting for order from above. IG will always take sides and make statements that are provocative to the people of the affected area.”

CAN alleges that “Under Mr Buhari, the murderous Fulani herdsmen enjoyed unprecedented protection and favoritism to the extent that the herdsmen treat Nigeria as a conquered territory. Rather than arrest and prosecute Fulani herdsmen, security forces usually manned by Muslims from the North offer them protection as they unleash terror with impunity on the Nigerian people. It is clear to the discerning that Buhari is not running Nigeria according to the dictates of the Democratic values in the Constitution and has no respect for Human Rights, Rule of Law and Democracy. It is unfortunate that a President that was sworn into office to uphold and defend the Constitution has flagrantly violated the Constitution and adopted Sharia ideology as operational standard.

The Nation