Northern Christian elders task Buhari on Leah Sharibu’s release

The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate the release of Leah Sharibu, who has been in Boko Haram’s captivity since February 19, 2018.

In its Christmas message, the group stressed the need to give hope to those who had lost hope, saying that it would be good news to revive the hearts of those in despair.

The group pleaded with President, Muhammadu Buhari to give the Christian community a Christmas gift by ensuring the release of Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram’s custody, saying, “We believe the government has the wherewithal and capacity to effect her release.”

In a statement issued yesterday, Chairman of NOSCEF, Ejoga Inalegwu lamented the security challenges and the state of the nation, pointing out, “Our hearts bleed for our nation, a nation that has abandoned God and every godly value.

“We call evil good and good evil, we congratulate those who steal the people’s mandate through the barrel of the gun and intimidation, we have forgotten the values of the Yar’Adua fame, who could look at victory in its face and say ‘the means that brought me to power is flawed.”

Noting that Nigeria’s democracy was threatened under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, Inalegwu said, “Those from whom we expect higher standard is the first to congratulate a stolen mandate.

“Every local government election is now won 100 per cent by the party in power. Those advocating that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should take over council elections will now be chewing their words because with INEC, we see elections stolen at gunpoint and several lives lost.

“We call on men and women of conscience to cry out loud so that the situation does not deteriorate further. Dishonesty in government escalates crime and criminality. Let the spirit of Christmas redirect our ways to godliness.

“Let us pray that God will bring hope and righteousness to the state of despair and hopelessness in the nation. May the Lord flush out unrighteousness of state organs, so that the rich (wise men) and the poor (homeless Shepherds) will have access to the blessings of God in our nation, Nigeria.”

Besides, lamenting the injustices in all sections of the country, Inalegwu said, “Goodness Thomas scored 302 in JAMB and 278 in post-JAMB, with 6 A1s, but could not get the course of her choice, because she is a Christian. Let the nation cry out against this injustice.

“The injustice and discrimination that Christians suffer in the North in all spheres, even Christians from educationally disadvantaged states of Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina and other Northern states are denied their states’ quota admission to study courses of their choice, in spite of their performance, because of their faith.

“Soon, having taken over the headship of the institutions that regulate higher education, they will start targeting the private universities to frustrate them and will even make undercover laws that even our brethren in the National Assembly will be stampeded to support under the guise of party loyalty.”