The Council of Imams and Ulama in Kaduna State has faulted the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna Chapter, over a recent statement it issued regarding comments allegedly made by former governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
In a rejoinder signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Yusuf Yakubu Arrigasiyyu, the council said the remark about Christians constituting less than 25% of Kaduna’s population was made by the interviewer, not by El-Rufai, accusing CAN of twisting facts and attributing to him a statement he never made.
The council also criticised CAN for what it described as an attempt to distract the public from “serious and widely discussed allegations of dollar inducements offered to certain Christian leaders for political ends.” It urged CAN to address the allegations transparently through an internal inquiry and make its findings public, warning that silence or deflection would only erode credibility and public trust.
While noting that Christians constitute a minority in Kaduna, the council stressed that the state belongs to both Muslims and Christians. It cautioned CAN against dragging religion into partisan politics, peddling inaccuracies, and inflaming passions.
“The Council of Imams and Ulama will not stand by while falsehood is weaponized to unsettle our state,” the statement read.
The council called on all stakeholders in Kaduna to uphold truth, restraint, and responsibility, insisting that peaceful coexistence remains non-negotiable.
