Against the backdrop of alleged zoning of the positions of President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Deputy President of the Senate to the North East, South West and North West, respectively, United Religious Movement has appealed to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to consider Nigeria’s multi-religious status and give equal opportunities to the two dominant religions: Islam and Christianity.
Spokesperson of the group, Apostle Kehinde Collins, said APC should do so for the sake of peace and unity in Nigeria.
He stressed that the Ninth Session of the National Assembly is made up of Christians and Muslims; in the Red and Green chambers.
Addressing a special session with members of the group, yesterday, Collins urged the APC leadership to take cognizance of the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria.
He said: “It is imperative for the APC to be conscious of the multi-religious nature of the country.
“Senator Ahmad Lawan and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila have been recommended by the APC as senate president and speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The duo of Lawan and Gbajabiamila are Muslims.
“There is need to accommodate Christians in these positions.
“For the sake of peaceful co-existence among all religious and ethnic groups, there must be fairness and equity in appointments across the board.
“The appointments are lopsided and will polarise the country. The leadership of the APC should consider a Christian for either president of the senate or speaker of the House of Representatives.”
Collins urged religious leaders to call the political class to order, and also, appealed to the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to ensure all ethnic and religious groups are given equal opportunities.