The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the nineteen northern states and the Federal Capital Territory has called for calm and a renewed focus on unity following recent remarks by Donald Trump regarding alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Rev. John Hayab, chairman of CAN in the north, urged that President Trump’s statements be taken not as an invitation to conflict, but as a prompt for all Nigerians – Christian, Muslim or otherwise – to come together in defence of life, faith and national harmony.
He argued that rather than viewing the U.S. leader’s comments through a purely religious or political lens, Nigerians should see them as a wake-up call to end killings and intolerance across communities. “This is an opportunity for peace-loving Christians and Muslims to unite and insist upon action by our government to stop the killing of persons because of religion or any form of identity,” Rev. Hayab said.
He cautioned against efforts by any faction to exploit Trump’s remarks to deepen suspicions or provoke division. He noted that the U.S. comment was voiced by an external observer concerned about Nigeria’s peace, and should not be weaponised to fuel fear or conflict. Rev. Hayab added that while the statement referenced the plight of Christians, its target is not Nigerian citizens but rather extremist groups operating with impunity.
Highlighting freedom of worship as a universal right, Rev. Hayab appealed to religious leaders, government officials and security agencies to turn this moment into a catalyst for genuine reconciliation and stronger collaboration. “We want freedom for all to practice our faith, whether we are Christians, Muslims or free-thinkers,” he said, stressing that national unity must take precedence.
He concluded by saying: “This is a time for unity, not suspicion. We must put Nigeria first and work together to secure our future.”
