Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Mourn Late Buhari, Pray for Healing and Justice in Nigeria

KADUNA, July 15 — The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has expressed condolences to the family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and to the Nigerian nation, while also reflecting on the pain and division that marked his time in office.

In a heartfelt statement, SKCLA Chairman Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Nuhu Kure offered prayers for national healing: “May God heal this nation from the traumas of the past and raise leaders who will truly serve all Nigerians with justice, equity, and truth, not favouring one part of the country over another.”

While the association acknowledged Buhari’s passing with respect, it did not shy away from pointing out the painful legacy his administration left, particularly for the people of Southern Kaduna.

“As a body that speaks on behalf of a deeply wounded people, we must express the truth without pretense or political correctness,” the statement read. “President Buhari’s second term in office stands out in our memory as one of the darkest and toughest eras for the Southern Kaduna people.”

The association accused the federal government under Buhari of allowing “unchecked violence, persecution, and marginalization” in the region, with little or no meaningful response. It said the government appeared “indifferent or complicit through silence” during repeated attacks on Christian communities in Southern Kaduna.

However, the group contrasted this with Buhari’s earlier tenure as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1984 to 1985. “During that brief period, there was a determined effort to sanitize the Nigerian system, instill national discipline, confront corruption, and restore national pride,” the statement said, adding that despite its flaws, many Nigerians still remember that era with a sense of hope and order.

SKCLA acknowledged that Buhari had once inspired the belief that with the right leadership, Nigerians could be guided towards unity, discipline, and national development. But it lamented that such aspirations were not fulfilled during his later democratic rule.

The association concluded its message by reaffirming its hope for a better Nigeria: “We pray that God will heal this nation from the traumas of the past and raise a new generation of leaders who will uphold justice, equity, and the common good.”

President Muhammadu Buhari passed away recently after a prolonged illness. He served as Nigeria’s elected president from 2015 to 2023 and previously as military ruler from 1984 to 1985. His death has triggered a wave of tributes and reflections from across the country and beyond.