In a bizarre moment at Aso Rock on the eve of 2019 Christmas, President Muhammadu Buhari sang the popular Christmas Carol “We wish you a merry Christmas”.
He sang along with his deputy Yemi Osinbajo, who is also a Christian cleric and his APC party chief, Adams Oshiomohle.
In a short 38 seconds video made by the Nigerian Television Authority, State House correspondent, Adamu Sambo is heard reminding Nigerians that “..If you must know President Buhari does not extend such a privilege to his moslem aides at such a similar religious festivities”?
The narrator did not explain the reason for the President’s discrimination in favour of Christians.
In his Christmas message, the president said, “At Christmas we reflect on the humble, symbolic and divine birth of a young child thousands of years ago in Bethlehem, Judea; and the message of hope, compassion, salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace that Jesus Christ embodies and conveys.”
Mr. Buhari, a moslem, has been criticized by some local and foreign observers for his government’s failings to protect communities who have been under repeated attacks from mostly moslem pastoralists and bandits in the middle belt area of Nigeria.
Buhari is standing for re-election on 16 February 2019 against another moslem, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition PDP.
The presidential carol may be the president’s way to warm his way to Christian voters. Nigeria is said to be roughly divided equally between moslems and Christians.