The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint more Christians to key positions in his administration, despite the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket.
During the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Kaduna, Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Chairman of Northern CAN, acknowledged the inclusiveness in President Tinubu’s government.
He, however, said there is a need for greater Christian representation, particularly in high-ranking positions such as Vice President.
Pam noted, “For me, the most important thing is a government that is inclusive. As far as they have done a Muslim-Muslim ticket, we have also seen reasonable inclusiveness.”
However, he reiterated the association’s stance, saying, “We would prefer to have Christians in certain positions like Vice President to reflect our nation’s diversity.”
While commending the government’s efforts in improving security, especially in the northern region, Pam urged the administration to declare a complete state of emergency on the issue of insecurity.
“The situation is improving, but we want to see more action to address insecurity and ensure that Nigerians can go about their daily activities without fear,” he said.
Pam also raised concerns about the exclusion of Northern Christians from some political appointments, particularly in the North-West Development Commission, where no Christian from the region was considered for appointment.
“We appeal for greater inclusion of Northern Christians in key political positions and decision-making roles,” he added.
The association also referred to issues such as kidnapping for ransom, farmer-herder conflicts, and economic hardship as major challenges facing the northern region, which the government needs to address urgently.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, Chief of Staff Christopher Tarka assured CAN leaders that President Tinubu is committed to promoting good governance and inclusivity.
He pledged to bring up the issues of Northern Christians’ exclusion from key positions and the challenges of acquiring land for church buildings to President Tinubu for consideration.
