Nigerian government writes British parliament over alleged persecution of Christians- The federal government of Nigeria writes to a British parliamentary group over allegations that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is persecuting Christians - The government says the claim by the Northern Christian Elders Forum (NORCEF) is false and should be disregarded - Nigeria's high commissioner to UK, George Adetola Oguntade, notes that Buhari's deputy is Christian and that the president continues to relate with people of the religion The Nigerian government has written a letter to the British parliamentary group denying claims by the Northern Christian Elders Forum (NORCEF) that the current administration is alienating Christians. Legit.ng understands that the government’s response is contained in the letter signed by Nigeria's high commissioner to UK, George Adetola Oguntade. In a statement by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, two letters were addressed to Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, a former secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and now head, independent review of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) support of persecuted Christians, as well as Baroness Berridge, the chair of all parliamentary group for international freedom of religion or belief. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The statement said the Nigerian government strongly dismissed the allusions that the Boko Haram terrorism served a government agenda against Christians. “It would be useful for me to engage with this process to ensure that you are thoroughly briefed on the situation in Nigeria,” Oguntade wrote in the correspondences. The high commissioner, who responded to the interim report on foreign and commonwealth office support for persecuted christians, told Rev Mounstephen: "The safety and security of all Nigerians, whatever their faith, is a fundamental priority of the Buhari government. The government knows that Nigeria can only achieve its potential if there is religious tolerance and cooperation.” Oguntade, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, explained that Buhari's deputy is a pastor and that the president has befriended church leaders and church groups both within and outside Nigeria. He added that the president’s cabinet is balanced between Muslims and Christians and that he himself was a former chancellor of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Oguntade noted that Vice President Osinbajo had maintained regular contacts with Christian and Muslim leaders as part of efforts to build and sustain interfaith dialogue. In the correspondences, he stressed that the country's security challenges had no ethnic and religious colourations. He also said the farmers/herders clashes predated the Buhari administration. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app He explained that such clashes bordered on the desire for pasture by the herders and the desire to protect crops from encroachment and destruction by the farmers. Noting that the administration was taking a major step to address the root cause of these crises and violent clashes pitting Muslim and Christian farmers alike against the herders, he added: “The issue of grazing routes is historically central to these conflicts and the Buhari administration is taking a holistic approach to the matter with a view to ending it once and for all, so that Nigerians can live in peace with one another." The high commissioner assured the international community that the Buhari administration would ensure that the competition over scarce land is resolved peacefully for the benefits of all parties. Legit.ng earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari recently revealed why he sacked Justice Walter Onnoghen, the retired Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), saying that he dealt with him for having in his possession undeclared foreign and local currencies. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Buhari honours Abiola as FG hosts Democracy Day in Abuja | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - The federal government of Nigeria writes to a British parliamentary group over allegations that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is persecuting Christians - The government says the claim by the Northern Christian Elders Forum (NORCEF) is false and should be disregarded - Nigeria's high commissioner to UK, George Adetola Oguntade, notes that Buhari's deputy is Christian and that the president continues to relate with people of the religion Legit.ng READ ALSO: PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng NAIJ.com Legit.ng