What we want as Christmas gift – Northern Elders tell Buhari
An elders’ group in the north have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue one of the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno state.
The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) pleaded with the president to ensure that the release of Leah Sharibu serves as a Christmas gift to all northerners.
Vanguard reports that the group said called on men and women of conscience to cry out loud so that the situation does not deteriorate further.
The group said: “We plead with the President, Muhammadu Buhari, to give the Christian community of this great nation, the Christmas gift by ensuring the release of our dear child, Leah Sharibu from the brutal custody of the Boko Haram.”
Noting that dishonesty in government agencies especially considering the effect of Boko Haram in Nigeria empowers the terrorists, the group said they believe God will bring hope to the state of despair in Nigeria.
Decrying the level of injustice in Nigeria, the group said the message of Christmas is a message of hope for a people who had lost every hope.
“The injustice/discrimination that Christians suffer as a way of life, in the north in all spheres, even Christians from educationally disadvantaged states of Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina and other northern states are denied their state quota admission to read courses of their choice, in spite of their performance, because of their faith,” the group said.
“Finally, we plead with the President, Muhammadu Buhari, to give the Christian community of this great nation, the Christmas gift by ensuring the release of our dear child Leah Sharibu from the brutal custody of the Boko Haram.”
”We believe the government has the wherewithal and competency to effect her release,” it added.