Amid the growing public debate on the comments on insecurity by the former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ayo Oritsejafor, the Christian Social Movement of Nigeria (CSMN) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, to continue promoting religious harmony and national unity.

The group also urged all religious and political leaders to exercise restraint in their public statements to avoid deepening divisions in the country.

Defending Oritsejafor’s recent remarks, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of CSMN, Bosun Emmanuel, said the comments reflected the concerns over the country’s security challenges and should not be misconstrued as an attack on adherents of any faith.

In a statement yesterday over an earlier reaction by the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), which said the comments could profile members of a religious community, the CSMN said Oritsejafor’s remarks were intended to highlight the impact of insecurity on Nigerians and should be understood within that context.

The organisation said Nigeria would benefit more from constructive engagement among religious leaders than from exchanges that could heighten tensions.

According to CSMN, the Christian community is appealing to President Tinubu to call his religious compatriots to order, as extremists among Muslims have used their unbridled religious fervour to destabilise and disorganise Nigeria.

It added: “The Christian community has been patient under intensive provocation, and the mischievous distortion of narratives should not continue to be tolerated. Muslims are responsible for the terrorism in Nigeria. The government should task the Sultan of Sokoto to call his followers to order.”

The CSMN further stressed the need for a united approach to tackling insecurity, urging all citizens and leaders to support efforts aimed at restoring peace and strengthening national cohesion.