The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has told the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not deserve what Nigerian Christians have done to him.

This was after President Donald Trump of the United States of America redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern. This followed allegations of Christian genocide in the country, a charge the Nigerian government has vehemently denied.

In a statement made available to our Correspondent, MURIC Executive Director Professor Ishaq Akintola described the redesignation as blurred, misplaced, and distorted. “It is a complete misrepresentation of the true picture on the ground in Nigeria,” he said.

“But instead of dissipating energy on debating the rationality or otherwise of the redesignation, we will rather turn our attention to the fifth columnists in our midst.

“There can be no smoke without fire, and the cockroach will not find its way into the house if the walls have no openings. The Americans may have their own agenda, but some Nigerians gave them the green light in this matter.”

Akintola recalled that certain Christian leaders had written frivolous petitions to the US Congress claiming that Christians were the only ones being killed by terrorists in Nigeria. He lamented that instead of debunking this false and misleading narrative, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) amplified it.

“We are nonplussed by the actions of these Christian leaders, most especially that of CAN, which is expected to know better,” he said.

He described CAN’s action as a stab in the back in view of President Tinubu’s preference for Christians in appointments, favours and privileges over and above his Muslim brethren.

“The president himself confirmed that 62 per cent of all appointments went to the Christians. The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, was even more generous to them than Father Christmas. Despite all that was done for Nigerian Christians by this administration, they still deemed it fit to take Nigeria to the enabler of Gaza genocide.

“President Tinubu does not deserve this. It is the Mother of all Betrayals, and we denounce those behind the report in the strongest terms,” the MURIC director said.