The Christian Association of Nigerian(CAN) condemned the visit of United States Secretary of States, Mr. John Kerry, describing it as discriminatory, personal and divisive. They said the visit was a plan aimed at continuing the persecuting Christians in Nigeria.
During Kerry’s two-day visit to Nigeria, he only visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III; and met with select Northern Governors.
The decision led to criticism with CAN accusing him of favouring Northern Nigeria and Muslims to the detriment of the Christian community.
The President of CAN, Dr. Supo Ayokunle, told Journalists on Thursday that Kerry’s action smacked of disrespect for the heterogeneous nature of the country.
Ayokunle said the attitude and disposition of Kerry and his discriminatory visit validated accusations that the President Barack Obama’s administration had openly supported the All Progressives Congress in the 2016 general elections, which produced the current leadership of Nigeria.
Asking Kerry to “stop interfering in Nigerian affairs”, Ayokunle said, “Why did he meet with 19 Northern State governors, without Southern Governors? Is Nigeria the North alone? Why did John Kerry go to the North alone?”
The CAN President stated that the visit had sent a wrong signal, and confirmed the report that Christians under the Buhari’s administration were under siege.
He said:
“There’s a siege on Christians. Kerry, his actions speak volume, his actions, body language were very divisive.
“If the US Secretary of States is coming for an official visit, it’s understandable. But we demand explanation why he was selective. Has the Sultan’s Palace become another State House? Was Kerry invited by the Sultan?
“We have 36 States in Nigeria; he only selected 19 Northern Governors to meet with them. It was a visit to the North, not to Nigeria. It was purely a very divisive visit.
“With the visit to the North, Kerry’s visit has heightened fear and tension among Christians in Nigeria. If they cannot bring us together, they should not interfere in our affairs. So, Kerry should stop interfering in Nigerian internal affairs.”
