The presidency has refuted claims by some individuals and groups that it is targeting Christians, as unfounded.
This is contained in a statement released on Monday by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu.
The presidency was reacting to an article published on Saturday by the London Telegraph entitled “Children Face Death by Starvation in Northern Nigeria”. Shehu said the article bears semblance with an earlier piece published on April 12, entitled “Nigeria Using UK Aid to Persecute President’s Political Foes” where the newspaper accused the presidency of diverting funds meant to prosecute the war on terror to persecuting its political foes.
He said the allegations were untruthful and unhelpful.
He said that the presidency was not targeting Christians nor the opposition in any way, and that detractors should not play into the hands of Boko Haram by dividing the nation along religious lines.
“As for claims that the Administration is targeting Christians and the opposition, these are without foundation. Since assuming office, President Buhari has treated all Nigerians without bias for ethnicity or religion – as the composition of his cabinet and the policies and programmes of his Administration demonstrate.
“To suggest his government as deepening Muslim-Christian division is not only untrue, but plays into the hands of Boko Haram who wish to divide Nigerians along religious lines. Fighting this group is key priority of President Buhari’s Administration. Indeed the international community has widely acknowledged his determination to defeat terrorism in Nigeria and the entire Lake Chad Basin.
“There is nothing to gain by attempting to mould public opinion against these facts. Therefore we invite The Telegraph to visit Nigeria: to witness first hand not only the challenges we face, but the Administration’s determination to confront them.”
He also said that claims that aid monies were diverted were untrue. According to Shehu, such monies were “dispensed directly by DFID, USAID, the United Nations, the International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and many other organizations”.
“To state the facts: the UK government does not give development aid to the Nigerian administration for use in military operations against Boko Haram. Where British military support – such as intelligence – is provided, it is precisely and only, given for operations directly against Boko Haram. Similarly, the Nigerian Government is in no position to divert aid monies used for emergency relief for refugees or IDP camps for any other purpose, as these are dispensed directly by DFID, USAID, the United Nations, the International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and many other organizations – with which we enjoy excellent relations.”
“The humanitarian situation in these camps is real. The Administration remains deeply concerned about the medical, health and nutrition challenges and we are doing everything with the limited resources we have at our disposal to improve the situation. However, the blame for the plight of refugees lies with Boko Haram. They are its cause, not the Nigerian Government.
“In the light of ongoing efforts, we regret the recent attack on the UN humanitarian convoy in the Northeastern region and are encouraged by the world body’s determination to continue rendering assistance to the displaced victims. That the attack was repelled by Nigerian troops escorting the convoy shows precisely how the Government and humanitarian agencies are working together.”
