The Christian Youths Alliance of Nigeria has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress to balance the appointments across religious divides to avoid marginalisation after their inauguration for a second term in May.
The group noted that with the trend of development and arrangement of the APC, there was the possibility of having Muslims as the President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chief Justice of Nigeria in the new dispensation.
“Already we have Muslims as Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President and if the body language of the APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and other stakeholders is anything to go by, there is the possibility of having Senator Ahmad Lawan another Muslim as the Senate President and Dr Femi Gbajabiamila, a Muslim as the Speaker of the House of Representatives,” the group said in a statement signed by the Coordinator, Jude Adetunji and Secretary, Hassan Blessing, on Tuesday.
The group said Buhari and the APC should note that Nigeria is a secular state with people from different religious backgrounds. They argued that therefore all religious groups should be properly represented in the leadership of the 9th National Assembly.
“Though credibility is important, but there are other Christians who are equally credible and capable of running the affairs of the National Assembly and other key positions in the government.
“Marginalising people of other religions should be guided against by the President who claims to belong to everybody.
“This call is not against any religion but to sensitize Nigerians on the need to support balanced appointments and equal treatment.”
