The North West Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing a Board of Directors to the Northwest Development Commission without including a single Christian member.
In a statement by Elder Sunday Oibe, Chairman of the North West CAN, the association expressed deep concern over the lack of diversity in the board appointments. They emphasized that Christians from the seven states in the region were overlooked, stating, “These appointments do not reflect the diversity of the region, as no Christians from the seven states were selected to the board of the Commission.”
The statement pointed out that the appointments seem to reflect the implications of the Muslim-Muslim ticket during the 2023 presidential election. The association argued, “There are Indigenous Christians in all the States that make up the North West, including Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. It should not be assumed that all the people are Muslims.”
CAN North West highlighted the importance of inclusivity, asserting that the current situation perpetuates marginalization and is unacceptable. They urged President Tinubu to reassess the appointments and include Christians to ensure balanced representation.
The association warned that ignoring these concerns could lead to negative consequences for the commission’s success and foster religious divisions within the region and Nigeria. They called on President Tinubu to prioritize unity and inclusivity, stating, “Until the President reverses this appointment to include Christians on the board of the Commission, we do not doubt that he is out to implement an Islamic agenda ahead of the 2027 general election to favour only Muslims in the country.”