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President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh
The North West chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointments to the board of directors of the North-West Development Commission, citing a glaring absence of Christian representation.
PUNCH Online reports that the President had submitted the names of seven Governing Board members of the North West Development Commission to the Senate for confirmation.
Tinubu had nominated Haruna Ginsau (Jigawa) as Chairman and Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji (Kano) as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.
Other members include Dr. Yahaya Namahe (Sokoto), Aminu Suleiman (Kebbi), Tijani Kaura (Zamfara), Abdulkadir Usman (Kaduna), Muhammad Wudil (Kano), Shamsu Sule (Katsina), and Nasidi Ali (Jigawa).
However, in a statement issued in Kaduna on Saturday, CAN Chairman for the North West, Sunday Oibe, expressed disappointment and concern over the lopsided appointments, which he believes perpetuate marginalisation and exclusion.
“We are deeply concerned about President Tinubu’s recent appointments to the board of directors of the North West Development Commission.
“Unfortunately, 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,” Oibe said.
The North West Development Commission was established to address the region’s developmental challenges, including infrastructure decay and security issues.
However, the CAN chairman’s statement highlighted concerns about the commission’s representation and potential bias.
“We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the appointment of the board of directors into the Commission by President Tinubu shows that the intention behind the Muslim-Muslim ticket during the 2023 presidential election has started manifesting,” he stated.
The CAN chairman emphasized that the North West region is home to both Christians and Muslims, and this appointment undermines the principles of inclusivity and fairness.
“Mr. President should take note that there are indigenous Christians in all the states that make up the North-West, that is, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States, and as such, it should not be assumed that all the people are Muslims,” he said.
Oibe urged Tinubu to reassess the appointments and ensure balanced representation, warning that failure to do so would have negative consequences for the commission’s success and encourage religious divisions in the region.
“Leaving these appointments unchanged will have negative consequences for the commission’s success and encourages religious divisions in the region and Nigeria as a whole,” he cautioned.
The CAN chairman also called on Tinubu to prioritise unity and inclusivity in his decision-making, particularly when it comes to balancing the two religious bodies.
“We request that President Tinubu takes immediate action to address these concerns and promote inclusivity in the North West Development Commission,” Oibe said.
In a stern warning, Oibe hinted that if Tinubu fails to address their concerns, the CAN may seek redress before the “court of heaven.”
“If Mr. President fails to address our genuine complaints, we may be left with no option than to seek redress before the court of heaven against his government’s composition of the board of directors of the commission,” he stated.
