Femi Adesina castigates Christian churches for constant attacks against the Buhari government

PRESIDENTIAL spokesman Femi Adesina has hit out at Nigeria's Christian community saying that some of the most negative attacks on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari came from churches.

Since assuming office in 2015, President Buhari has aroused suspicion in Christian circles that he is biased towards Muslims because of the lopsided nature of his appointments. Also, the president's refusal to clamp down on Muslim Fulani cattle herdsmen, who have been attacking Christian farming villages across the Middle Belt, have fuelled these claims of religious bias.

Speaking yesterday at a meeting organised by the Christian Press Association of Nigeria (Cpan), Mr Adesina claimed that many of the negative comments he has heard against the Buhari government were from the church. He called on the Christian faithful to pray for their leaders rather than attacking them and also enjoined Christians in government to be living examples.

Mr Adesina said: “How frequently do you pray for your leaders and how much support do you give them? Instead of criticising people in government and judging them, pray for them.”

“Before the minister of state for labour and employment, the late Ocholi, died, we had more Christians in the cabinet than Muslims and after his death, the number became equal. Unfortunately many of the comments I have heard against the government are from the church."

He called on Christians to let their light so shine that people can see their good works, which is what the bible says. According to Mr Adesina, working with government should help Christians to affect a larger number of people for God.