CAN Criticizes Non-Inclusive Appointments to Northwest Development Commission

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• The North West chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing a Board of Directors for the Northwest Development Commission that lacks any Christians, highlighting concerns over representation and inclusivity in the region.
• CAN’s Chairman, Elder Sunday Oibe, expressed fears that these appointments reflect an ongoing marginalisation of Christians in the North West and indicated that this could contribute to religious divisions in Nigeria.
• The association urged President Tinubu to reassess the appointments and ensure fair representation, warning that failure to do so may prompt them to seek legal redress and emphasising the need for unity and inclusivity in governance.

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CAN Criticises Non-Inclusive Appointments to Northwest Development Commission

The North West Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has voiced strong objections to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent appointment of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Development Commission, citing the absence of any Christian members.

In a statement from Elder Sunday Oibe, Chairman of the North West CAN, the organisation expressed its deep concerns over the lack of representation for Christians among the newly appointed board members.

“We are deeply concerned about the recent appointments to the board of directors of the North West Development Commission by President Tinubu. Unfortunately, these appointments do not reflect the diversity of the region, as no Christians from the seven states were selected,” Oibe stated.

He further emphasised the significance of this omission, suggesting that it reflects a broader trend linked to the “Muslim-Muslim ticket” from the 2023 presidential election. “We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the appointment of a board of directors into the Commission by President Tinubu shows that the intention behind the Muslim-Muslim ticket has started manifesting; otherwise, how come there is no single Christian on the Board of Directors?” he questioned.

Oibe reminded the president that there are indigenous Christians in all the states of the North West—Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara—and stressed that the population is not solely Muslim. “It should not be assumed that all the people are Muslims,” he added.

The chairman criticised the lack of inclusivity, asserting that such appointments could alienate a significant portion of the region’s population. “This lopsided appointment, with no consideration for the feelings of this other bloc, is unbecoming of Tinubu’s administration, and we are disenchanted by this action.”

To remedy the situation, CAN urged President Tinubu to reassess the appointments to ensure fair representation. “For the sake of inclusivity and fair representation, it is imperative that Christians are appointed to the commission. The current situation is unacceptable as it perpetuates marginalisation.”

The organisation warned that failing to address these concerns could hinder the success of the commission and exacerbate religious divisions in Nigeria. “Leaving these appointments unchanged will have negative consequences for the commission’s success and encourage religious divisions in the region and Nigeria as a whole,” Oibe stated.

He called upon President Tinubu to act swiftly to include Christians on the board, warning that the current exclusion could be perceived as part of an agenda favouring only Muslims in the lead-up to the 2027 general election.

“We urge all Christians in the zone to remain law-abiding and wait patiently to see whether or not President Tinubu will reverse the situation to include Christians on the board. If Mr. President fails to address our genuine complaints, we may be left with no option but to seek redress before the court of heaven against his government’s composition of the board of directors of the commission,” Oibe concluded.

“Long live Nigeria. Long live CAN.”