Leah and Buhari
The Catholic church has reached out to president Muhammadu Buhari about the release of Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram.
According to Vanguard, the Catholic
Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, has issued a statement, urging the
President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to, as a matter of
urgency, go the extra miles in re-negotiating the unconditional release
of Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram captivity.
It also reminded President Buhari that Nigeria is a secular country
where the government has the responsibility of ensuring the safety of
every Nigerian irrespective of religious, political and ethnic
differences.
Last week, the President had given assurances that he will not relent in his effort to ensure the release of 15-yr-old Leah.
However, in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday
by Secretary-General of CSN, Rev Fr. Ralph Madu, the Nigerian Catholic
Community noted since the President gave those assurances not much has
been heard from the government on the efforts being made to secure
Leah’s freedom
The church further said that the travails of the teenage girl have
become a symbol of the sufferings, persecutions, challenges and
intimidations Christians face daily in the country.
The statement reads in part: “The story of Leah Sharibu is
indeed a mixed story of faith, as well as a sad commentary on how
religion has often been used as a tool of division by many for their own
selfish purposes. The 15-year old Leah has indeed become a symbol of
the sufferings, persecutions, challenges and intimidations Christians
face daily in Nigeria for expressing their faith especially in public.
“We use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to go
the extra miles in re-negotiating the unconditional release of Leah
without further delay. We must remember that this is a secular country
and the government has the responsibility of ensuring the safety of
every Nigerian irrespective of religious, political and ethnic
differences.
“At the long run, everyone in Nigeria, both Christians and
Muslims alike, have much to learn from a deeply courageous 15 year old
Christian girl from Dapchi about what it means to be loyal to one’s
faith and to be faithful to one’s God even in the face of adversity.”
Madu also thanked the parents of Leah for bringing up their
daughter in a truly Christian way with love and fear of God over the
fear of man; and commended their fortitude in bearing the present
predicament of their daughter.
“This exemplary family life should be a lesson worthy of
emulation by all Nigerian families and communities irrespective of
religious affinity,” the CSN scribe said.
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