Ensure balance In NASS leadership, appointment of ministers, CAN urges Buhari

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged president Muhammadu Buhari to take his leadership beyond party politics and ensure ethnic and religious balance with depth in picking the National Assembly leadership. 

CAN also appeal to the president to ensure inclusiveness and fairness in constituting the new cabinet and appoint worthy Nigerians to the headship and membership of critical agencies, boards and parastatals. 

President of the association, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, made the appeal yesterday in Abuja, when the CAN leadership paid a congratulatory visit to Buhari in Aso Villa. He stated that this would help remove any apprehension and suspicion harbored towards the leadership of the country,

He added that the principle of separation of power as it is enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would be allowed to thrive as an intrinsic aspect of modern day democracy. 

“We were so happy listening to your speech after your re-election that you were going to run an all inclusive government. Having been re-elected President, you have become the President of all. In view of this, we urge you to see yourself as father to all by embracing all. We recognize the importance of the National Assembly to the stability and growth of our polity

“We commend you especially for the revival of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and the sincere efforts of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in ensuring that your passion to build peace through NIREC becomes a reality,” Ayokunle said.

The CAN president also seized the opportunity to solicited for release of Leah Sharibu and other Chibok girls from captivity, saying,  “each passing day inflicts anguish in the hearts of the parents of this young girl, the rest of us who are parents, all Nigerians and others all over the world who love freedom and regret that Leah’s life is being wasted in captivity for no sin of hers other than for her religion.

“Doing all within you to free Leah Sharibu and according it top priority, shall confer greater credibility on your government and on you as a person. Please, Mr. President, let Leah Sharibu and those in captivity of insurgents be freed to enjoy their lives.”

While commending the president for his efforts at putting an end to bloodshed in the nation, the CAN president implored him to task the security agents to be more alive to their responsibilities by putting an end to insurgency, ethnic violence, kidnapping and Herdsmen’s atrocities prevalent in our nation. 

“Today, the Northwest of Nigeria which used to be peaceful is also witnessing violent activities. The unnecessary killings in Kaduna and the detention of some leaders of Ajara Chiefdom in Kaduna State since January should be addressed without delay to douse all tensions. All efforts today by all of us should be geared towards forgiving one another and reconciling with one another,” he added

Meanwhile, Director, National Issues and Social Welfare, Bishop Stephen Tunde Adegbite, yesterday debunked the story that the body was under pressure to congratulate the President on his re-election, saying the association has already felicitated with him in a letter dated February 28, 2019.

He said, “For anybody to say that we are under pressure to congratulate the president it is not correct.

And we disassociate ourselves from that publication. We don’t know anything about it and it is not from our office.”

“When the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared President Buhari as the president-elect, the president of CAN, Rev. Samson Ayokunle wrote a letter to congratulate him, because we are not partisan,” Adegbite added.

In related development, President Buhari has said that his decision to observe Juma’at prayers at the Presidential Villa, and not the National Mosque in Abuja, is to prevent the constraints and inconveniences presidential movements may cause to the people.

He made the disclosure while responding to a request by a delegation of Imams and senior Islamic scholars from all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, led by Prof. Shehu Ahmad Galadanci, the Murshid, National Mosque.

“Regarding your request for me to be attending Juma’at prayers in the National Mosque, I implore you to note that I personally started observing Juma’at prayers in the State House in order to reduce hardships, which people may pass through. As you all know, presidential movements require roadblocks and other attendant restrictions, which could subject worshippers and other people to a lot of difficulties,” Buhari said.