- Halimah Olamide
General Overseer of Guiding Light Assembly Church, Pastor Wale Adefarasin has questioned what he described as a sudden love for Nigerian Christians by the West.
Speaking during a sermon, Adefarasin recalled over four decades of ethno-religious crises in parts of Southern Kaduna and Plateau State, noting that violence against Christians in Nigeria is not a new phenomenon.
He referenced past incidents where global religious controversies, including the defacing of an image of Prophet Muhammad in France, triggered killings in Nigeria, stressing that such episodes have long occurred without comparable levels of international outrage.
“In over 40 years that I’ve been a Christian, there have been killings in Southern Kaduna, Plateau.
“There have been riots. Sometimes, I think in France, an image of Prophet Muhammad was defaced.
“As a result of that, there were killings of Christians in Nigeria. So, it’s nothing new.” He said.
Adefarasin argued that the narrative being spread by the Western voices paints an exaggerated picture.
“It doesn’t amount to genocide. The way the West are talking about it is as if when a Christian steps on the street, his head will be blown off.”
He implied that the sudden show of concern may be linked to the nation’s growing economic and strategic value rather than humanitarian motives.
“I’m trying to understand the sudden love for Christians. Is it because we now have one of the largest refineries in the world and no longer have to ship raw materials abroad and bring the finished products.
“Or is it because of the 21st century minerals we now have in our earth to be used in generating nuclear power and for electric vehicles?
“Are those the reasons that our friends are threatening to invade our country to defend and protect Christians?” He said.
NPO reports recalls that United States President, Donald Trump has placed Nigeria on the U.S. list of “Countries of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations.
According to Trump, Christians in Nigeria are being killed in very large numbers and faces an existential threat.
NPO reports that he has directed the United States Department of Defense to prepare for possible action in Nigeria if the killings continue