Tinubu Has Proven His Commitment to Inclusivity Despite Muslim-Muslim Ticket, Northern CAN Acknowledges Concerns
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has expressed that President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, which promotes inclusivity regardless of religious or ethnic differences, has alleviated many of the concerns surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
In an interview with journalists following a National Executive Committee meeting of Northern CAN in Kaduna, Reverend Yakubu Pam, the Chairman of Northern CAN, emphasized that while it would be ideal to have a Christian as Vice President to better reflect Nigeria’s religious diversity, the current administration’s inclusive approach has been noticeable.
Pam remarked, “The most crucial thing is a government that ensures inclusivity. Although the Muslim-Muslim ticket was adopted, we have still seen some degree of inclusiveness. Ideally, we would like to see Christians occupy key positions such as the Vice President, as this would reflect our national diversity.”
He further added, “Having a Christian in the second-highest office would be appreciated. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, what matters most is addressing the issue of insecurity. People’s desire is for the government to tackle insecurity so they can go about their lives without fear, and this is beginning to improve. We would like the government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity.”
Pam noted that while progress is being made under the current administration, especially in terms of security, there are still challenges that need attention. “The situation now is far better than in previous years when bombings were rampant. But hunger is now the major issue. Prices of basic goods have skyrocketed, and people are suffering. The President has promised improvements over time, and we are hopeful.”
During his address at the meeting, Pam acknowledged the presence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and urged Nigerians to continue praying for President Tinubu, for peace, and for the prosperity of the country.
He also highlighted the ongoing struggles of Christians in some Northern states, including difficulties in acquiring land for churches, political marginalization, and the adverse effects of rising living costs and insecurity. “We recognize the efforts of President Tinubu’s administration to address these issues, but we ask for more intervention to restore peace and stability in Northern Nigeria,” he said.
In his remarks, Akume, represented by his Chief of Staff Christopher Tarka, reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to fostering good governance throughout the country. He pointed out that the President’s actions, such as providing palliatives to Christians during the last Christmas season, reducing fuel prices, and prioritizing security during the holiday period, were testament to his dedication to the well-being of all Nigerians.
Tarka also addressed concerns about challenges faced by Northern Christians, including land acquisition for churches and underrepresentation in political appointments. He promised to bring these issues to President Tinubu’s attention to ensure that they are appropriately addressed.
