Northern CAN praises Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim presidency

Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

According to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), inclusive governance has been exhibited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim administration in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and the 19 northern states.

However, Northern CAN Chairman Rev. Yakubu Pam told reporters yesterday, just after the association’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Kaduna, that Christians will continue to want Nigeria’s religious diversity to be represented by having a vice president.

In response to a question on whether CAN, which in 2023 opposed President Tinubu’s choice of a Muslim running mate, felt excluded by his administration, Pam stated that “there is a reasonable inclusiveness in governance,” even though the president is Muslim.

Pam said: “For me, the most important thing is a government that is inclusive and as far as they have done Muslim-Muslim ticket, we have also seen reasonable inclusiveness.

“But left for us, we will say ‘yes, let’s have Christians in certain positions like vice president and other positions to reflect our diversity.’

“We know the desire of people is to see that insecurity is addressed so that they can go about their normal daily activities without fear.

This is already happening; we want the government to declare a complete state of emergency on the issue of insecurity.

“We may have a Christian there and killings may still be going on, but it is something we still pray for. The Presidency will be good to bring a Christian as number 2.

“We will appreciate it, there is nothing wrong with that. Whatever way, the important thing is that insecurity should be tackled,” he explained.

Although he praised the present administration’s performance, he added that more could be done by the government to combat instability.

“There are pockets of things here and there that should be addressed.

“The situation is not as bad as the previous years when there were bombings,” he added.

Hunger is the nation’s biggest problem, he added, adding that the cost of food and other necessities is “crazy.”

“I think the major challenge now is hunger. People are suffering. Prices of commodities are crazy. That is what we are crying for now. But the President has said that with time, things would be better; let’s see how it goes,” Pam said.

Speaking earlier in the meeting, which was attended by Senator George Akume, a representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Pam voiced her worry about Christians, especially those from the Northwest, being excluded from political posts.

He stated: “For example, in the North-West Development Commission, no Christian from the region was considered for appointment; instead, a Christian from the South-east was included.

“We appreciate the efforts made by Mr. President and his administration to address these issues, but we appeal for greater intervention to restore peace and stability in Northern Nigeria.

“We humbly request more inclusion of Northern Christians in key political positions and decision-making roles.”

Pam lamented the threat of kidnapping for ransom, which has continued to be a major issue and has left many families in the North in fear and poverty.

The continuous conflicts between farmers and herders, he continued, had destroyed lives, interfered with farming operations, and jeopardised the region’s food security.

He also criticised several Northern states for their intolerance against Christians.

He claims that Christians continue to have difficulty obtaining property for church structures and are excluded from government appointments and other chances.

Speaking on behalf of his Chief of Staff, Christopher Tarka, the SGF stated that President Tinubu was dedicated to advancing good governance throughout the nation.

He asked the leaders of CAN to keep praying for peace, love, and peace in the region.

According to him, President Tinubu is totally dedicated to advancing inclusivity, equity, and good governance throughout Nigeria.

“Rest assured that this administration is determined to address the pressing challenges facing the Northern region, including insecurity, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, and economic hardship.

“The government is working tirelessly to restore peace, stability, and economic growth in affected areas”, Akume stated.

He stated that the perceived discrimination of Northern Christians from important political jobs and the challenges in obtaining property for church structures were widely known.

“I will personally bring these issues to the attention of Mr. President to ensure that they are addressed appropriately.

“I acknowledge the concerns regarding the lack of representation of Northern Christians in the North-West Development Commission.

“While I appreciate the recognition of the steps already taken by the President, such as appointing a Christian as the SGF and other ministerial roles, I assure you that we will continue to advocate for greater inclusion of Northern Christians in decision-making positions.

“The government is working on robust policies and measures to address insecurity, ensure justice, and create economic opportunities that benefit everyone, particularly in the Northern region,” the SGF added.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.