Buhari: SGF refutes report he “slams Christians”

THE Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir David Lawal has debunked a newspaper report (not Nigerian Tribune) that he slammed Christians for wanting President Muhammadu Buhari dead.

Lawal said the story published on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in the daily was completely inconsistent with the sermon delivered he delivered in Jerusalem, Israel.

A statement by the Director, Press, SGF Office, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, on Thursday in Abuja said SGF had in the sermon calls on Nigerians, irrespective of their religious leaning to love one another, celebrate achievements of the nation’s leaders and desist from destroying national heroes.

He said the reference to President Muhammadu Buhari was to counsel Nigerians to believe only the official reports on the state of health of Mr President and not rumors and false news.

He said this was done to reinforce the appeal that Nigerians should pray for the good health and success of leaders, at all time.

Adebiyi said the full text of the sermon, which could be obtained on the SGF’s Facebook Account, Engineer Lawal “calls on Nigerians, irrespective of their religious affiliations to love one another, celebrate achievements of our leaders and desist from destroying our heroes.

“He frowned at the growing hatred amongst citizens and in particular, the imputation of politics and partisanship into all actions and achievements of our leaders.

“He only called on Christians and in particular prophets not to prophesy calamities on our leaders nor threaten retaliations on criminals in the name of Christianity.

“According to him, God does not need protection from humans.  He urged Christian’s leaders not to join miscreants in fanning the embers of hatred but that they should continue to pray for our leaders and our nation.

“At no time, during the sermon, did the SGF castigate Christians in the negative manner reported in the Leadership story.

“The reference to President Muhammadu Buhari was to counsel Nigerians to believe only the official reports on the state of health of Mr President and not rumors and false news, in order to reinforce the appeal that we should pray for the good health and success of our leaders, at all time,” the statement said.