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…Condemns religious, tribal campaign against minister
From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
Northern group, Arewa Youth Parliaments has passed a vote of confidence on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike over his determination to turn the fortune of the seat of power around in the national interest.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the Speaker, Arewa Youth Parliament, Yahaya Salisu condemned recent utterances credited to some Northern religious clerics and elites along a particular faith and ethnic group describing such as uncalled for.
To this group, Nigeria is a democratic republic with each Nigerian having equal rights and as such, the seat of the Minister of FCT belongs to any qualified Nigerian irrespective of tribe or religion as the appointing order (President) may deem fit to appoint.
Salisu then called on young persons especially from the North not to allow themselves to be used as tools of destruction by some people who will not use their God-given position to empower them but rather want to use them for selfish reasons.
“The Leadership of Arewa Youth Parliament wishes to address this press conference with a heavy heart on recent unfortunate development within the Nigerian sociopolitical space, which is aimed at dividing us along religious and ethnic lines.
“We therefore condemn in strong terms these unpatriotic utterances which are capable of fanning the embers of disunity and hatred amongst the peace-loving Nigerians. Nigeria is going through a healing process under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim.
“It is important that Muslim clerics should support his administration to ensure that Justice, equity, and good governance are served on the Nigerian populace, which is one of the tenets of Islam.
“Just recently some unpatriotic set of people went on social media alleging that the FCT Minister has concluded plans to demolish part of the Abuja Central Mosque which was later confirmed by the same Abuja Central Mosque Authority that it was false.
“This type of political propaganda is very unfortunate and highly condemnable.
The Minister of FCT, Barr Wike together with the Minister of State for FCT Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, a Hausa Muslim from the core Northern State of Kano are harmoniously working hard to reposition the Federal Capital city with a befitting status that we will all be proud of. We should please encourage them.
“The Arewa Youth Parliament have been following up the activities of Barr Wike with keen interest and so far we have not found any element of anti- Islam or anti Northern Nigeria (Arewa) utterances or action and therefore wish to use this medium to Pass a Vote of Confidence on him and urge him to continue doing his best to live up to the high expectations of President Tinubu and well meaning Nigerians especially by restoring the Abuja master plan,ensuring effective service delivery and proper administration of the FCT in all facets.
“We urge the minister to remain focused, resolute and not be distracted by agents provocateurs who are out for their selfish interest. As youth who look up to good leaders as role models, we are proud to say Wike’s leadership credibility and capacity to deliver on his mandate speaks for him any day, anytime.
“We are using this medium to call on our fellow Arewa youths to disregard any call for demonstration or campaign of calumny against the FCT Minister who is busy uniting Nigerians respective of their religions for a better FCT and Nigeria at large”, the group added.
