Northern Christians beg Buhari to effect release of Leah Sharibu as Christmas gift

As Christians all over the world prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF), have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the release of the kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu.
The Northern Christian Elders argued that, the federal government has the “wherewithal and the competency” to effect the release of Miss Sharibu who has been held by the Boko Haram insurgents since 2018.
In a Christmas message made available to journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, NOSCEF’s Chairman, Mr. Ejoga Inalegwu, said the release of the Sharibu would be the most cherished Christmas gift for Christians in Nigeria.
Leah Sharibu was among the 110 students of the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state, who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on February 19, 2018.
It was reported that, five of the girls died, 104 were released by the insurgents on March 21, 2018, following negotiations with the federal government, while Sharibu was held back by the captors due to her alleged refusal to deny her Christian faith.
NOSCEF, however, said, “We plead with the President, Muhammadu Buhari, to give the Christian community of this great nation, the Christmas gift by ensuring the release of our dear child Leah Sharibu from the brutal custody of the Boko Haram.
“We believe the government has the wherewithal and competency to effect her release,” Ejoga said.
He also lamented the state of the nation, saying that Nigerians are heartbroken because leaders have abandoned God and every godly value that makes a nation great.
He noted that Christmas is a message of hope for a people who had lost every hope and good news to revive the hearts of those in despair.
The NOCEF chairman said: “Our hearts bleed for our nation, a nation that has abandoned God and every godly value.
“We call evil good and good evil, we congratulate those who steal the mandate of the people by the barrel of the gun and intimidation, we have forgotten the values of the leaders of the Yar’adua, fame who could look at victory to its face and said, “the means that brought me to power is flawed.
Those from whom we expect a higher standard, are the first to congratulate a stolen mandate.
“Every Local Government election is now won 100 per cent by the party in power in the state. Those who are advocating that INEC takes over Local Government elections will now be chewing their words because with INEC, we see elections stolen by guns and lives lost”.
He called on men and women of conscience to cry out loud so that the situation does not deteriorate further.