Abubakar raises concern at divisive conflict

Former Vice-President and a frontline line aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, said the ongoing terror was dividing the country along religious and ethnic lines.
He stated this in Abuja at a meeting with the Administrative Board of Catholic Bishops to discuss national unity and interfaith cooperation.

“We are currently being further divided along religious and ethnic lines. As you know, countries hardly recover from religious conflicts. There are examples all over the world to warn us," Abubakar said.

"God has given us large Christian and Moslem populations. Neither can succeed in subjugating or defeating the other. So we must coexist with mutual respect and mutual regard for each other’s interests and concerns," he added.

"This has not always been the way many of our leaders approach religion and ethnicity in this country. We must not let the voices of extremists in both religions drown the voice of moderation and compromise,” the former Vice-President said.

He added that the country going through very difficult times, especially general insecurity all over the country, but particularly in the North East.

“Our country is going through very difficult times, especially general insecurity all over the country, but particularly in the north east. We have a growing insurgency which is spreading."

His sentiments come on the back of rising terror the Islamic militant Boko Haram sect is perpetuating largely against Christian communities.

Source: News24