I am Abraham’s descendant, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said he was a descendant of Abraham , a biblical hero regarded as the father of faith .The President said this in an article he wrote in The Church Times UK titled , “ Don ’ t politicise religion in Nigeria . ”

In the piece , Buhari eulogised the late Revd . Samuel Ajayi Crowther , reputed to have translated the English Bible into Yoruba language .

The President said just like the millions of Christians in Nigeria , he believed in peace , tolerance , reconciliation , the institution of the family , the sanctity of marriage , divine revelation , among others .

He wrote , “ In 1844 , Revd . Samuel Ajayi Crowther returned home to Yorubaland. Twenty years earlier , he had been kidnapped and sold to European slave traders who were bound for the Americas . He was freed by an abolitionist naval patrol, and received by the Church Missionary Society . There , he found his calling .

“ Crowther made his voyage home to establish the first Anglican mission in Yorubaland. He came with the first Bible translated into Yoruba and Hausa languages . He opened dialogue and discussion with those of other faiths . And his mission was a success : Crowther later became the first African Anglican bishop in Africa . ”

The President added , “ Along with the millions of Christians in Nigeria today , I believe in peace , tolerance , and reconciliation ; in the institution of the family , the sanctity of marriage , and the honour of fidelity ; in hope , compassion , and divine revelation .

“ Like Bishop Crowther , I am a descendant of Abraham ; unlike him , I am a Muslim . I believe our two great religions cannot only peacefully coexist but also flourish together. But Muslims and Christians must first turn to one another in compassion . For , as it says in Amos 3 . 3 : ‘ Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet ?’”

Buhari further said he believed that there was far more that united Muslims and Christians than what divided them .

Unfortunately , he said there were those who sought to divide Nigerians along religious lines for their own advantage .

He said he had been accused of trying to Islamise Nigeria and also accused by Boko Haram terrorists of being against Islam .
“ My Vice – President is a devout man , a Christian pastor . He , too, is accused of selling out his religion, because of his support for me , ” he said .

“ This is not the first time that I – nor , indeed , my Christian – Muslim evenly split cabinet – have been the subject of such nonsense . Fortunately , the facts speak differently from the words of those who seek to divide us from one another . ”

The President said since his administration had been in power , Boko Haram had been significantly and fatally degraded, adding that he had befriended church leaders and church groups both within and outside the country .

He said , “ In all things , we seek that which all well – meaning Christians and well -meaning Muslims must seek : to unite , respect , and never to divide . Does it not say ‘ There is no compulsion in religion ’ ( Qur ’ an 2 . 256 )? Does it not say ‘ Forbid him not : for he that is not against us is for us ’ ( Luke 9 . 50 )? This , surely , is the path that followers of both our two great religions must walk .

“ Unfortunately , those who wish us all to walk apart have recently found another focus for their efforts : the tragic clashes between nomadic herdsmen and settled farmers in the central regions of Nigeria . ”

Stating that the cause of the conflict was not religious or theological , he said it was only temporal .

“ At the heart of this discord is access to rural land , exacerbated both by climate change and population growth, ” he said .

“ Sadly , there are some who seek to play fast and loose and so make others believe that these are not the facts . When religion is claimed as the cause – and by those who know that it is not – it only makes finding a resolution more difficult . ”

Buhari said his government had taken action to mediate and bring the two groups ( farmers and herdsmen ) together in peace and unity .
He said , “ As our constitution codifies , politicising religion has no place in Nigeria ; for it makes us turn away from one another ; it makes us retreat into our communities and walk different paths .

“ I believe that there is a better way. To those who seek to divide , I still hold my hand out in brotherhood and forgiveness . I ask only that they stop, and instead encourage us to turn towards one another in love and compassion . Nigeria belongs to all of us . This is what I believe. ”

AFP .

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