Our Reporter, New York
Nigerian-born, US-based nursing educator Dr. Nneka Egbuonu, has faulted the Nigerian President’s claim that the tragic killing of 126 civilians in the Tundun Biri village in Kaduna State is “an event designed by God.”
She made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90Minutes Africa on Sunday.
“We cannot make mistakes or be rascal with our lives and say it is designed by God.
“I don’t think that God is that evil to do such a thing,” the devout Buddhist said.
Her statement comes barely a week after President Tinubu gave his “condolence message” at the palace of the Shehu of Borno. The president admonished that “as a people of faith and people who believe in this country, importantly faith, death through Maulud Nabir is Shahad. We must take that one as a tragic event designed by God.”
However, Mr. Tinubu’s statements, which came one week after a military carried out what they referred to as an accidental airstrike that killed 126 civilians celebrating Maulud, have attracted criticism from different quarters.
“After listening to Tinubu’s explanation, I completely disagree with him because he was not looking at what caused the tragic event,” Dr. Egbuonu argued.
“He should rather find out what happened to those lives or where the mistake started. That is what he should have done, not saying to the whole of Nigeria and the people of Kaduna that lost all those lives that God designed it to be that way.”
Dr. Egbuonu, who has been practicing Buddhism for over three decades, argued that God does not design evil for people and that religion should be used as a tool to propagate fear. “Many of us really misunderstand what religion is actually all about. People are supposed to be happy in whatever religion they practice. Not to make a mistake where people will lose their lives, and we would say that’s what God wants.
“Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) wouldn’t have said what Tinubu said,” she quipped.
She called on Mr. Tinubu not to sweep the issue under the carpet but to conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the tragic event.
