The North West chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed strong disapproval over President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointments to the board of the North West Development Commission, alleging that only Muslims were selected.
In a statement released on Sunday, Elder Sunday Oibe, Chairman of the North-West CAN, voiced concerns that the appointments do not reflect the region’s diversity. “We are deeply concerned about the recent appointments to the board of directors of the North West Development Commission by President Tinubu. Unfortunately, these appointments do not reflect the diversity of the region, as no Christians from the seven states were selected for the board of the commission.”
Oibe further asserted that the composition of the board suggests a continuation of the Muslim-Muslim ticket agenda from the 2023 presidential election.
“We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the composition of the board of directors of the commission by President Tinubu demonstrates that the intention behind the Muslim-Muslim ticket during the 2023 presidential election is starting to manifest. Otherwise, how can there be no single Christian on the board of directors of the commission, as if there are no Christian faithful in the region?”
The CAN Chairman emphasized the presence of indigenous Christians in all states of the North-West, which include Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
“Mr. President should take note that there are indigenous Christians in all the states that make up the North-West: Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. It should not be assumed that all the people are Muslims.”
Oibe criticized the lack of inclusivity in the appointments, stating, “This lopsided appointment, with no consideration for the feelings of these other groups, is, to say the least, unbecoming, and we are disenchanted by this action.”
He urged for a reassessment of the appointments to ensure fair representation: “For the sake of inclusivity and fair representation, it is imperative that Christians are appointed to the commission. The current situation is unacceptable as it perpetuates marginalization. We urge President Tinubu to reassess these appointments and make necessary adjustments to ensure balanced representation.”
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The CAN Chairman also called on Christian faithful in the North-West to remain calm but warned of potential divine intervention should the situation remain unchanged.
“Leaving these appointments unchanged will have negative consequences for the commission’s success and encourage religious divisions in the region and Nigeria as a whole. We call on President Tinubu to prioritize unity and inclusivity in his decision-making, especially regarding issues of balancing the two religious groups.”
He concluded with a plea for immediate action from the President.
“We request that President Tinubu take immediate action to address these concerns and promote inclusivity in the North West Development Commission. However, we urge all Christians in the zone to remain law-abiding and wait patiently to see whether or not President Tinubu will reverse the situation to include Christians on the board of the commission.”
Oibe reiterated the seriousness of the issue, stating, “If Mr. President fails to address our genuine complaints, we may be left with no option but to seek redress before the court of heaven regarding his government’s composition of the board of directors of the commission.”
