Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Interior, has discredited
assertions that Nigeria joining the Islamic Coalition against Terror being led
by Saudi Arabia, has a religious connection. Onyeama made the explanation while
talking with State House Correspondence in Abuja today March 7th,
2016.
“What I say first of all is that you guys in the media have to be more
responsible in the way you present news. First and foremost, get your facts
right. It has nothing to do with religion as far as Nigeria is concerned.
We have to look at what the objective is. We face terror challenges and it’s a
global phenomenon. Unfortunately, the problem we have today is that some of the
terrorists groups are claiming some of the things they are doing is in the name
of a particular religion and it is clear to everybody that this is not the case
which is obviously a concern to people of Islamic faith and Islamic countries
that their religion should be so abused. So, there is naturally a tendency to
show that this has nothing to do with Islam. Terrorism has nothing to do with
Islam. Islamic countries, Islamic people want to be seen as being in the
forefront of the battle against these terrorists to show also that it has
absolutely nothing to do with religion. That’s what this is all about. So, we
are supporting every move to achieve this, to disabuse people’s minds that some
of these terrorists are speaking in the name of Islam or are Islamic or that
there’s anything about Islamic teaching that somehow condones these barbaric
actions. “I think it’s something we should all get together and we should all
support whoever is working towards it. And that’s what this coalition is for,
to show too that we are a Muslim country, we are Muslims and these people do
not speak for Islam, have nothing to do with Islam. Most of the victims of
these people are Muslims if you look at it. So, that’s what it is. It has
nothing to do with Nigeria, Christianity, Islam. I think the media should
really get the main message across” he said
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