Comrade Isaac Balami, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aviation expert, has acknowledged the longstanding pattern of attacks on Christians in northern Nigeria.
He traced these incidents to years of inadequate action and silence from religious leaders who, he argues, should have been at the forefront of peacebuilding.
Balami, who hails from Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State — one of the largest Christian communities in the region, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that Christians in the North have endured decades of tension with resilience, choosing dialogue and coexistence over retaliation or division.
According to him, the average Muslim in the North does not see Christians as enemies, but extremists have continued to exploit religion as a tool of manipulation.
“Ordinarily, northern Muslims do not see us as their enemies,” he said.
“The real problem lies with extremists who have found a way to exploit religion for their own gain. They sow seeds of hatred and division so they can thrive in chaos.”
Balami, however, added that much of the crisis could have been prevented if Muslim leaders across the region had spoken out more forcefully, early, and consistently against violent ideologies falsely promoted in the name of Islam.
“The silence of many religious leaders over the years worsened what is now globally viewed, rightly or wrongly, as an Islamic agenda. But let me be clear, many Muslims of good conscience have always believed in coexistence and mutual survival,” he noted.
He confirmed that, “Christians are being killed, and this has been happening for years.”
He noted that while many moderate Muslims have also been victims of insurgent violence, it is chiefly because they are liberal Muslims and have refused to buy into the ideologies of the insurgents.
He argued that some influential voices within the religious establishment have not been as firm and vocal as the situation demands.
He warned that the errors of the country’s founding fathers must not be repeated, stating that instead of uniting the country towards prosperity, they were committed to playing regional politics. He said, “though people like Zik of Africa, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and a host others played important roles in reshaping the history of the country, they were not nationalistic enough and had tilted more towards regional politics. Balami alleged that the foundation of the current crisis was the mistakes “ of our grand parents who failed to see beyond their standpoints at their hay days.
He cautioned that the era when job offer was based on the religion one belongs on the region when hails from was far gone and that the world is now titling towards what one can bring to the table.
“If we continue on this trajectory of offerings jobs and contracts based on religion and region, then we are almost going back to our vomit; a costly mistake our grand parents made,” he said.
He lamented the supports insurgents get from some clerics, “a worrying number of clerics have shown sympathy for or leniency toward insurgent narratives.”
He criticised certain positions taken by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who has consistently advocated negotiations with armed groups. Balami said such approaches have often been interpreted by victims as undue softness toward insurgents responsible for widespread killings.
He also referenced political leadership in parts of the North-West, alleging that some state administrations have not done enough to protect Christian communities from persecution—claims he said have been repeatedly raised by civil society groups and human rights advocates.
“When good people keep quiet, evil prevails,” Balami warned, calling for a united moral stance by both Christian and Muslim leaders.
He appealed to Nigerian pastors at home and in the Diaspora to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness, urging them to let go the past despite the killing of their members and destruction of their churches. “Vengeance is for God not man,” he admonished.
Advising Muslims and their leaders, Balami said it’s true that the initial targets were Christian northerners, “but as of today, many muslims have also fallen victims. It’s therefore expedient that they all rise up and speak against this horrible trend, else it will consume everyone.”
Balami also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to continue to be the unifier he has always been, urging him to forgive all the detractors who worked against him in the last election and form an alliance with them for common growth.
He affirmed that despite being a Muslim, the president has demonstrated a spirit of religious inclusion and balance. He pointed to the religious diversity in Tinubu’s administration and his commitment to tackling insecurity.
“President Tinubu, a southern Muslim, has appointed Christians and Muslims alike into sensitive positions. Since assuming office, he has shown zeal in confronting the insecurity he inherited. In two years, he has demonstrated willingness to take tough decisions where past leaders hesitated,” Balami said.
He praised the president’s openness and respect for religious freedom, citing the First Lady’s freedom to maintain her Christian faith as evidence of Tinubu’s tolerance and respect for diversity.
The former TUC Spokeman further stated that President Bola Tinubu—who he described as a liberal Muslim has continued to incline toward fair representation but has faced resistance from individuals who believe Christians should not have significant influence in the current government. He lamented that such attitudes will further deepen distrust and hinder national cohesion.
He, however, insisted that “As a listening president, Tinubu is correcting the missteps of the past. As a unifier, he is building bridges across religions and cultures. He has proven that Nigerians, regardless of faith can have equal access and representation under his leadership.”
Despite these concerns, the former president of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers emphasized the need for unity and collective responsibility. He urged younger Nigerians not to repeat the mistakes of previous generations, stressing that Nigeria’s diversity should be a source of strength rather than division.
According to him, Nigeria should by now be competing with countries like South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, “but decades of mistrust, bad leadership, and silence in the face of injustice have slowed our progress.”
Balami urged Nigerians to shift focus from the genocide debate and instead rally against the true threats destabilizing the country.
“Instead of arguing endlessly about whether there is genocide or not, I believe Nigerians must unite against our common enemies — Boko Haram, ISIS, ISWAP, banditry and sympathizers of these groups. These terrorist forces have killed, maimed, and displaced countless people across religious lines,” he said.
He called for national unity and collective resolve, “My appeal to every Nigerian, both Christians and Muslims, is simple: let us form a united national front against the forces that threaten our lives and our future. Our survival depends on it.”
He concluded that Nigeria’s coexistence is non-negotiable and that the country’s “marriage must continue,” stating that this can only be achieved through justice, accountability, and sincere efforts to build mutual trust across religious and ethnic divides.
