31st August, 2016
The United States Mission in Nigeria has opened talks with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, over allegations of religious and sectional partisanship in last week’s visit to Nigeria by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry.
The US Embassy said this as it noted that Kerry did not sideline Christians in the meeting with religious leaders in Sokoto, claiming that the most senior official interacted with both Muslims and Christians during the engagement in Sokoto.
Larry Socha, a spokesman at the U.S. Mission in Nigeria said, “In Sokoto, Secretary Kerry met with both Christian and Muslim leaders to discuss religious tolerance and ways to counter violent extremism affecting all Nigerians.
“The Embassy is in communication with CAN to clarify the media reports and any misunderstandings.
“In addition to his meeting with Christian and Muslim leaders and the individuals you mentioned below, Secretary Kerry also met with FM Geoffrey Onyeama, U.S. exchange programme alumni, non-governmental anti-corruption activists, young Nigerian women at a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) event, and others while in Nigeria.”
Rev. Musa Asake, Secretary General of CAN, confirmed that the embassy had already opened communication with the Christian body and that an appointment with the CAN president would be made in the nearest future towards clarifying the issues involved.