Christians in Nigeria’s North-West region have expressed concerns over the recent composition of the North-West Development Commission (NWDC) board, highlighting the absence of Christian representation.
In a statement issued in Kaduna, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) North-West Zone, Elder Sunday Oibe, urged the federal government to address the exclusion.
The association emphasized that regardless of the reasons behind the omission, the exclusion of Christians from the board was unacceptable as they recalled past criticisms of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for alleged favoritism and nepotism, noting that the current government must ensure fairness in appointments.
Oibe said “We wish to draw the attention of the presidency and the National Assembly to the importance of inclusiveness in governance. Christians constitute a significant portion of the population across the seven states in the North-West,” the statement read.
“Christians in the North-West are an integral part of Nigeria’s development and cannot be sidelined. We, therefore, call on President Bola Tinubu to review the composition of the NWDC board and ensure adequate Christian representation,” the statement continued.
CAN further stressed that Christian communities exist in all North-Western states including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Zamfara and their voices must be heard on matters affecting the region.
The statement also pointed out that Christians in the North-West continue to face marginalization and discrimination in various aspects of society.
“We urge President Tinubu to take immediate steps to rectify this situation and foster a more inclusive administration,” the association added.
