President Bola Tinubu has reacted to the allegations of Christian genocide across certain states in Nigeria by a United States lawmaker, Ted Cruz.
The president said that his administration remains fair and duly committed to all religions in the country.
Tinubu gave this assurance while attending the burial ceremony of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, the mother of the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.
Speaking at the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos, Plateau State, he vowed to unite Nigeria and its people across divides.
Also addressing a group of Northern Christian leaders at the event, the president assured that his administration will continue to ensure justice and inclusivity for all Nigerians.
He said, “I have a mission to unite this country, ensure its prosperity, and we are making progress.
“As leaders, we have the responsibility to manage religious issues for the benefit of all.
“In our family, we have a strong Muslim background, and I married a Christian, a pastor for that matter, and I have never forced her to change her religion,” Tinubu noted.
The reaction by the presisent follows a proposal for sanctions on Nigerian government officials made by Senator Cruz.
The US lawmaker introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, which targets Nigerian leaders with sanctions including visa bans, and asset freezing over alleged complicity in violence perpetuated against Christians by Islamist jihadists.
The bill has since sparked debate across the globe while eliciting outrage among presidential officials and critics who labelled the claim as false propaganda against the Tinubu government.