There have been mixed reactions trialling the pronouncement of River State, a south southern state of Nigeria as a “Christian State” by governor Nyesom Wike.
This follows comments he made during the Lord’s Chosen Crusade with the theme: “God has the power to do this or that” at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.
According to Wike, while attributing his political survival to the support and prayers of the Christian community, “I repeat once again without apologies, Rivers State is a Christian State. That is why nobody can touch us. When it mattered most, the Christian community prayed and God heard your prayers.”
This sparked a barrage of reactions amongst social media user, with most of them being highly critical of the Rivers Governor.
One of the critics,@natunebay on twitter, share the following message on Twitter, “Don’t mind their hypocrisy! Imagine if Kano Governor had said Kano is an Islamic state. El-Rufai chose a Muslim Running Mate in a Muslim state and all went agog! We need to be honest and steadfast for peaceful coexistence!” –
Another user raised a similar question: ” I repeat once again without apologies, Kaduna State is a Muslim State. That is why nobody can touch us. When it mattered most, the Muslim community prayed and God heard your prayers”-Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State. Wailers will rant on this” -Biliaminu Abdul Mujeeb Olaniyi on twitter.
Check out some other reactions as seen on twitter;
(Embedded Tweets)
Dividing Nigeria on religion and ethnic ground is our problem.?#MondayMotivation
— ERNEST (@mx_ernest) June 24, 2019
and yet, its Buhari and muslim that are CRISTIANISING NIGERIA……HYPOCRICY
— muhammed hamisu (@muhammedhamisu) June 24, 2019
So governor woke can said it openly that river state is a Christian state and said no apology for such comments.
— yusuff Azeez (@yusuffAzeez16) June 24, 2019
And it’s not Christianization!
Imagine any Northern governor said such!….— Adamu Shuwa (CNA) (@Adamxss) June 24, 2019
Had it been its northern governor that declare his state Islamic state… It would’ve been entirely a different story.
— Mayor (@Abdultilde11) June 24, 2019
And to think Governor Wike is a lawyer beats the imagination. No governor has a right to proclaim a state as Muslim or Christian. Violating the constitution for political reason will only lead to escalation of violence and tension. Wike has been particularly flippant. SAD
— Bayo Olupohunda (@BayoOlupohunda) June 24, 2019
This is not the first time Governor Wike will be saying stupid stuff like this. Nigeria is a secular state and it’s important for Wike and politicians mixing religion with politics to know this. Rivers is not a Christian state. No state in Nigeria is Christian or Muslim state. https://t.co/MjNdQLPqjx
— Bayo Olupohunda (@BayoOlupohunda) June 24, 2019
Zamfara Governor: No apologies, Samfara is a Muslim State
Sokoto Governor: No apologies, Sokoto is a Muslim State
Other Governors: No apologies…yenyenyenyen….When there is nothing to offer, they start their nonsense ethnic or religious statement.
Is Wike a Christian? https://t.co/80cu9VyrJ2— Taiwo_Ajakaye (@dmightyangel) June 24, 2019
vacate your seat for a pastor to govern then
— Segun Precious (@PreciousSegun) June 24, 2019
With no apology kwara state is a muslim state