By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Kaduna – Christians in the North-West zone have expressed deep concern that the government has recently constituted a board for the North-West Development Commission (NWDC) without including any Christian representation.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) North West Zone, Elder Sunday Oibe, issued to journalists in Kaduna.

According to the statement, “We wish to draw the attention of the presidency and the National Assembly to the fact that governance is fundamentally about inclusiveness in serving the people.
In the North-West zone, Christians form a significant population across all seven states.”

“We are, therefore, deeply concerned that the government has recently constituted a board for the North-West Development Commission (NWDC) without including any Christian representation.
Regardless of the reasons behind this omission, it is unacceptable that Christians are not represented on the commission.”

“We are saddened and alarmed by this outright exclusion of Christians in the zone.
While former President Muhammadu Buhari was accused of nepotism and favouritism in his appointments, we now find ourselves raising concerns about what appears to be religious bias under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu
Christians in the North-West are an essential bloc in the Nigerian project, and their interests cannot be ignored.”

“We hereby call President Tinubu to review the membership of the NWDC and ensure adequate representation for Christians in the North-West zone.
“We have indigenous Christian communities in all the states in the north-west – Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Zamfara, all of whom deserve a voice on this critical commission.”

“How can the interests of Christians in this zone be effectively protected without representation on the board?
Furthermore, it is important to note that in many states across the North-West, Christians continue to face discrimination and marginalisation.”

“The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the North-West zone is deeply troubled by this issue, and we strongly appeal to President Tinubu to urgently address our concerns,” they concluded.