President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, has restated the resolve of the country to support the Nigerian people in the ongoing effort to end terrorism.
According to Laolu Akande, the Executive Director of Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, Obama said this at the 62nd National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton on Thursday.
The National Prayer Breakfast, which holds in the US Capital yearly every first Thursday in February, has been attended by every president since Dwight Eisenhower.
Obama’s wife, First Lady Michelle; the Vice President Joe Biden; members of both the cabinet and the congress, joined Obama.
“I’ve pledged our support to the people of Nigeria, who deserve to worship in their churches and mosques in peace, free from terror,” CANAN quoted Obama as saying.
The US president also advocated religious freedom around the world.
Obama expressed concern that while faith sustains, “it’s also clear that around the world freedom of religion is under threat”.
Recalling his own personal experience, the American president acknowledged that the Lord “directed my path to Chicago and my work with churches that were intent on breaking the cycle of poverty in hard-hit communities there.
“And I’m grateful not only because I was broke and the church fed me, but because it led to everything else.
“It led me to embrace Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.
“It led me to Michelle – the love of my life – and it blessed us with two extraordinary daughters.
“It led me to public service.
“And the longer I serve, especially in moments of trial or doubt, the more thankful I am of God’s guiding hand.”
Obama spoke few months after the State Department designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
There have also been media reports that the US military would be training their Nigerian counterparts in the effort to properly combat terror groups in the country and in the West African region.
Akande, however, noted that CANAN welcomed the continued focus of the US government and the support of Obama in this matter.
CANAN said: “It is our hope and expectation that with the active support of the US government, Nigerian Christians and others would have a sigh of relief.
“We call for greater and increasing support from the US government, especially in the area of going after terror kingpins within the context of the FTO.
“And also supporting the ongoing operations of the Nigerian military to end the carnage in North-Eastern Nigeria.”
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