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From John Adams, Minna
As agitation for religious balancing of political offices in Niger State gathers momentum, the Concerned Northern Christians Women Forum (CNCWF) Niger state chapter has called on Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago to, as a matter of equity, justice and fairness address the open marginalisation of Christians in both appointments and elective offices in the state.
Addressing newsmen in Minna yesterday, the Christian Women Forum led by the Chairperson, Mrs. Grace Zegi, assisted by the Secretary, Mrs. Florence Dada, said the same faith ticket in state is akin to discarding the feelings of the adherents of other faiths.
The forum said despite appeals from different groups to the governor on the need for regious balancing in both appointments and elective offices, he (governor) went ahead to reaffirmed the Muslim-Muslim ticket for governorship and deputy governorship for 2027, adding that this only reflects political convenience and not inclusion.
The forum expressed disappointment that after various groups had appealed to the governor to give thoughtful considerations in his appointment as lover of both Muslims and Christians, he ignored this and went ahead to pick a Muslim deputy.
The forum acknowledged that though the Nigerian Constitution does not prohibit such an arrangement, “political leadership should demonstrate sensitivity to the state’s religious diversity. We are citizens too and such decisions amount to undermining other religions”.
The women’s forum argued that the current socio-economic and security challenges in the country require leadership that fosters cohesion and one that reassures all segments of the population that they are adequately represented in the government.
The forum believes that the governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) party could have sent a stronger message of unity by adopting a more religiously inclusive ticket for the 2027 general election.
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According to the forum, “Our strength lies in our diversity. Our unity should be built on mutual respect among people of different faiths, ethnicities, and zones.
“A leadership that consciously reflects this diversity strengthens the people’s confidence and reinforces the principle that no group should feel excluded from the highest levels of governance”.
The forum pointed out that there is a large Christian population in the state and therefore “the highest political offices should reflect the state’s religious diversity just as we all respect the zoning formula which has come to stay in the state irrespective of the political parties”.
The maintained that by this open marginalization, the governor cannot show to the people that he is a lover of Christians, and by extension, the promoter of inclusion, equity, fairness and unity.
“We know by the Nigeria’s Constitution, the Governor has the prerogative to nominate anybody of his choice to be his running mate but let it be known that, there is still no equity and fairness in Christian representation in this current government.
“We are watching, because when it is time for politicking, they remember Christians and want us to mobilise votes. When it is time to appoint or select, we are side-lined. We believe and stand for equity and fairness in Governance”, the forum added.
The women’s forum reminded the governor that Christians supported overwhelmingly in his first term and may support his second term bid “but what we are calling for is that, there should be equal and fair representation of the two major religions in appointments”.
