Yakubu Pam, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says despite the Muslim-Muslim Presidency, “there is a reasonable inclusiveness in governance.”
Pam spoke in an interview with journalists on Saturday in Kaduna shortly after the quarterly executive meeting of the association.
Asked if CAN, which in 2023 opposed President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of a Muslim running mate, feels marginalized by his administration, Pam said Tinubu has demonstrated some level of inclusiveness in governance.
He said, however, that Christians will still want Nigeria’s religious diversity to be reflected by occupying the position of Vice President.
He 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 reasonably 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.”
According to him, “The performance of the current administration is going on a little better, but we want them to do more. There are pockets of things here and there that should be addressed.
“The situation is not as bad as the previous years where there were bombings.”
He said the major challenge of the current administration is hunger, noting that prices of food stuffs and other essential commodities are “crazy”.
“I think major challenge now is hunger. People are really, really 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 during the meeting which was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, Pam expressed concern over the exclusion of Christians, particularly from the Northwest from political appointments.
He said, “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 said the north continues to grapple with widespread
insecurity, which have destabilized many communities and left many displaced.
He lamented that the menace of kidnapping for ransom remains a pressing concern, causing fear and hardship for countless families across the
North.
He added that the ongoing crises between farmers and herders have devastated lives, disrupted agricultural activities, and threatened food security in the region.
He also decried discrimination against Christians in some Northern states who according to him, still face challenges in acquiring land for church buildings, as well as marginalization in political appointments and access to opportunities.
In his response, the SGF who was represented by Christopher Tarka, his Chief of Staff, said President Bola Tinubu is committed to promoting good governance across the country.
He urged the CAN leaders to continue to pray for unity, love and peace in the region.
He Tinubu, is fully committed to promoting good governance, equity, and inclusivity across all regions of Nigeria.
