Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari says there is no plan by himself or his administration to islamize Nigeria contrary to the propaganda that has taken root in some quarters and churches across the country.

Speaking at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Sokoto State on Sunday, Buhari maintained that there was no credible fact to indicate that the present administration was out to islamize the country.

He noted with dismay that such negative propaganda and insinuations were being promoted by outsiders and that it has in turn created suspicion and distrust leading to division and disharmony among many Nigerians.

Buhari, who spoke through the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Boss Mustapha highlighted such negative propaganda to include the membership of Nigeria in the Organization of Islamic Conference, introduction of Sharia in some northern states, the Boko Haram insurgency as well as farmers/herdsmen clashes.

While blaming politicians for using religion as a tool to spread hate and division among Nigerians, the President noted that these four issues had been in existence for decades and even preceded the current administration.

“It is pertinent to note that due to circumstances we found ourselves as a nation, suspicion on religious grounds has almost destroyed the fabrics of unity and love that bind us.

“There has been a lot of negative propaganda being instigated by outsiders and finds narrative in the church that there is a plan to Islamize Nigeria without any credible fact.

“The issue of membership of Nigeria to Organization of Islamic Conference, Shariah and farmers/herdsmen clashes  have created a lot of suspicion in the minds of the people despite the fact that the problems had existed in the country for several decades,” Buhari said.

President Buhari further noted that both Christian and Muslim religious leaders had been victims of killings in some parts of the country, adding that the Federal Government was committed to securing the lives of all citizens.

Expressing optimism that the country would rise again despite the myriad of challenges it was currently facing, he added: “I assure all Nigerians that criminals would be fished out and dealt with. The federal government will continue to provide a safe society for everyone. The fight against the Boko Haram insurgency is achieving the desired goal while efforts are being made to tackle the myriad of challenges in the polity.”

He stressed the need for the church, especially Catholic bishops to rise up to the occasion and educate the people on the negative propaganda being spread by politicians in order to achieve their selfish aims.

In his remark, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Augustine Akubueze said the bishops were in Sokoto to deliberate on issues affecting the church and the nation as well as advise Nigerians to make informed decisions ahead of the 2019 elections.