Don’t Let Trump’s Remarks Divide Nigeria – Muslim, Christian Clerics Warn Citizens
Christian and Muslim clerics under the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) have appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and united in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claim alleging a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
The Forum cautioned that Trump’s comments could heighten religious tensions across the country if not handled with restraint.
In a joint statement signed by Rev. Abainitus Akila Hamman and Dr. Yussuf Yakub Arrigasiyyu, the Christian and Muslim Co-Chairs of IDFP, the group said rising reactions within and outside Nigeria prompted the need for faith leaders to offer guidance rooted in peace and responsible communication.
“We acknowledge the pain and grief of families and communities across Nigeria who have lost loved ones to different forms of violence. Every life lost diminishes us all, irrespective of religion or ethnicity,” they said.
The clerics urged citizens, political leaders, and religious figures to avoid hate speech, resist provocation, and prioritise dialogue over confrontation.
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“We strongly urge all communities to reject retaliation and choose dialogue over conflict. This is a sensitive time, and restraint is essential,” they cautioned.
IDFP emphasized that Nigeria’s challenges cannot be solved through fear, suspicion, or inflammatory rhetoric, but through cooperation and mutual understanding among the country’s diverse groups.
“The solution to Nigeria’s challenges will never come from fear, but from dialogue and cooperation,” the statement read.
The Forum also called on the Federal Government to strengthen justice, fairness, and accountability in tackling insecurity.
“We urge the government to act decisively and ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of faith or background, is protected. Peace is sustained through fairness and justice,” it said.
Reaffirming its standing as a coalition of 120 Christian and Muslim leaders nationwide, IDFP pledged continued commitment to promoting tolerance, countering hate speech, and advancing interfaith collaboration.
“Our diversity should be a foundation for understanding, healing, and shared progress,” the clerics added.
They reminded Nigerians that sustaining peace requires deliberate choices: “Peace is not the absence of disagreement but the presence of understanding. Let us choose unity, dialogue, and hope.”
By PRNigeria
