As the 9th National Assembly prepares for Tuesday’s proclamation and election of principal officers, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has appealed to federal lawmakers-elect to “rise above narrow group interest and embrace consensus-building across religious divides”.
CAN pointed out that with Nigeria being “a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation”, there is an urgent need for deliberate balancing in the country’s governance by ensuring “fairness and equity in religious and geographical” spread in the selection of the nation’s leadership.
The Christian body disclosed this through its National Director, Legal and Public Affairs, Evangelist Barrister Kwamkur Samuel Vondip, warning against religious domination and the need to ensure equitable representation in the 9th National Assembly leadership.
Vondip said, “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has followed with keen interest the unfolding leadership tussle in the soon-to-be inaugurated 9th Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and wishes to lend its voice to the loud cries and calls for equitable representation in the choice of leaders for the Senate and House of Representatives.
“As a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, there is today an urgent need for deliberate balancing in the nation’s governance to ensure fairness and equity in religious and geographical spread in the selection of the country’s leaders.
“This is necessary in view of the current fragile state of inter-group relations in Nigeria and the need to arrest the current drift in the direction of mutual suspicion.
“CAN wishes to call on all men and women of honour, goodwill and patriotism to bring their influence to bear in strengthening the bonds of unity among Nigerians by calling on our political leaders, their parties and especially, our esteemed elected members of the ninth assembly to rise above narrow group interest and embrace consensus-building across religious divides.”
The national director continued, “This will go a long way in ensuring that the nation’s critical and fragile religious balance is reflected and sustained in the choice of those to lead them as presiding officers in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
“This call has become necessary in view of the unfolding lobby for a single religion to take over as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“We wish to state that if this is allowed to go unchecked, a bad and dangerous precedence will be set which will further widen the religious fault lines of our country.
“We believe that it is fair, equitable and just for the House of Representatives in the ninth Assembly to have a Muslim/Christian balance in leadership as already being envisaged in the Senate.
“We equally appeal to those who may want to dismiss this patriotic call to be circumspect in their responses and allow their inner patriotic sentiments to guide their actions.
“We must take deliberate steps to allay the fears of religious domination and marginalization in government business in this country”, the Christian body advised.
“A situation where the country’s leadership structure does not reflect her diversity with control of the three arms of government in the hands of one religious group to the exclusion of others will only but heighten suspicion and give credence to the growing allegations of a grand Islamization plot by sections of the country”, CAN warned.
“CAN therefore being mindful of her standing in society, and as a responsible and patriotic body, calls on our political leaders, especially those in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to act with caution and sensitivity by respecting our cherished traditions of leadership balance as has been the practice over the years,” the Christian body stressed.
While congratulating all elected members of the 9th National Assembly on their victories at the polls, CAN prayed that God, who is the “maker and giver of power, positions and leadership will guide their hearts and minds as they are inaugurated in this month of June, 2019”.
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