President Bola Tinubu on Saturday vowed to foster unity and fairness among Nigeria’s religious communities, assuring Christian leaders in the North that his administration would uphold equal treatment for all faiths.
The President made the pledge during a meeting with the leadership of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos, Plateau State, as he attended the burial of Mama Lydia Goshwe, mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
“I have a mission to unite this country, ensure its prosperity, and we are making progress,” Tinubu told the gathering. “In our family, we have a strong Muslim background, and I married a Christian — a pastor for that matter. I have never forced her to change her religion. We are praying to the same God.”
Tinubu said his government’s goal was to “defeat bandits, end farmers-herders clashes, and revive the economy,” adding that his administration’s reforms were designed to improve the welfare of all citizens.
The President’s remarks come amid a sharp rise in deadly attacks across Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions — violence that has drawn international concern. Lawmakers in the United States and Canada have accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities, with US Senator Ted Cruz introducing a “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act” and Canadian MPs calling for diplomatic action.
However, Nigerian officials have dismissed claims of a state-backed or one-sided campaign, arguing that extremists, armed gangs, and militias attack indiscriminately. The presidency has described some foreign reports as “malicious” and “contrived.”
Tinubu reiterated in his Independence Day address that the government’s security strategy targets all forms of violence, not one religious or ethnic group.
During Saturday’s visit, Tinubu paid tribute to the late Mama Lydia Yilwatda, describing her as “a devoted mother and humanitarian.” He also reflected on his long-standing ties to Plateau State, recalling his political activities there during the Social Democratic Party (SDP) era.
COCIN President and spiritual leader, Reverend Dr Amos Mohzo, praised the President for what he called “balanced appointments” in his administration — notably that of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and APC Chairman Yilwatda. Mohzo urged Tinubu to assist victims of conflict in the North-Central and facilitate the safe return of displaced Christian communities in Borno and Adamawa.
But the visit drew sharp criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who accused Tinubu of insensitivity for attending a political funeral while families across Plateau and neighbouring states continued to bury victims of violence.
“It is a sad reflection of priorities and a glaring mockery of leadership that while families in Plateau continue to bury their loved ones, President Tinubu chose to grace a political funeral rather than stand with the people in their darkest hour,” Atiku said in a statement on Saturday.
He described the President’s actions as “a heartless exhibition of disregard for empathy, compassion, and the dignity of human life,” adding: “From Benue to Niger and most recently Kwara, the entire North-Central region has endured horrific waves of violence. Yet, not once has the APC-led government deemed it necessary to physically stand by the victims or console their families.”
Atiku accused Tinubu of “choosing celebration over compassion,” recalling that even during his symbolic visit to Benue in June, the President failed to visit the site of a massacre in Yelewata.
“Now again, he is in Plateau State, not to console the bereaved or reassure the broken, but to celebrate and make merry with his party elite while the people mourn,” Atiku said. “The message could not be clearer: this is a President who would rather feast than feel — a leader who finds pleasure where the people find pain.”
The exchange underscores the deepening political and moral debate around Nigeria’s security crisis — one that has left thousands dead, displaced entire communities, and exposed the gulf between government assurances and public perception.
