… Says all elective, appointive Principal positions are now occupied by Muslims
A Coalition of Christian groups in Niger State has lamented the exclusion by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of Christians from vying for elective positions under the guise of consensus and zoning.
Speaking during a press briefing in Minna on the ongoing APC Primaries in Niger State, the coordinator of the Niger State Christian Voice in Politics and Governance, Habila Diko, said that, going by the action, there are no elective positions left for Christians to vie for.
Diko, while responding to questions, lamented that all principal and executive positions have now been occupied by Muslims.
According to him, “this country is a mixed place of people. We have Christians, Muslims and other religions. For fairness, equity, and justice, it is good that we carry everybody along, and that is what we ask for.
“At the moment, the Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Head of Service, Chief Judge, Secretary to the State Government or Chief of Staff are all Muslims.”
He cited instances with the sitting Senator, Peter Ndalikali from zone A, who lost, and Yusuf Kure, a Member of the House of Representatives, who did not return due to the pressure.
Also, the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Eunice Afiniki, from Gurara local government area and another lawmaker, Andrew Doma, from Shiroro LGA.
Diko, however, commended Governor Umaru Bago for his move to institutionalise zoning by pushing to gazette the zoning system to ensure power rotates among all 25 local government areas, proposing a maximum of 8 years for any area that benefits from the arrangement.
Accordingly, he said, “We understand that the aim is to prevent the dominance of single areas and ensure fair representation, but we want to draw the attention of the Governor and the APC leadership to the unfair treatment meted out to Christian Aspirants vying for Senatorial and House of Representatives positions.”
He alleged that there are fillers that Christian Aspirants vying for the State House of Assembly are currently being pressured to withdraw or step down.
“We strongly condemn this action resulting from zoning or consensus, and we call on the party leadership to clear its name as it is being peddled that they are the ones behind the call for Christian Aspirants to step down or be screened out,” he disclosed.
He then urged the leadership to review and correct the outcome of the Primaries following the genuine complaints and irregularities that have been raised for fairness, equity and justice.
In his words: “We call on the State Governor, Mohammed Bago, to reverse the systemic scheming and exclusion of Christians in the APC primaries”.
Furthermore, we want to use this medium to call on other political parties in the State not to take this same line or undermine Christian Aspirants vying for positions, but ensure fairness and total inclusion.
