The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says either the next Senate
President or Speaker of the House of Representatives should be a Christian
to correct “the religious dichotomy” in the national political leadership.
The CAN president, Samson Ayokunle, made the demand in a statement signed
by Adebayo Oladeji, his special assistant, Media and Communications, on
Monday in Abuja.
Mr Ayokunle urged the incoming leadership of the National Assembly to
ensure religious and ethnic balance in the selection of officers as
enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, to avoid marginalisation.
“As you prepare for your inauguration, CAN urges you to balance the
appointments of your Principal Officers across religious divides.
“This is to avoid domination and marginalisation of any kind in the
interest of equity, justice, and fair play as enshrined in the 1999
Constitution (as amended).
“We, from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), recognise the
importance of the National Assembly to the stability and growth of our
polity.
“It is in this regard that we call for ethnic and religious balance with
depth in picking the leadership of that great institution of democracy,”
he said.
Mr Ayokunle said doing this would go a long way to remove any apprehension
and suspicion harboured towards the leadership of the country.
According to the cleric, “though the Senate and the House of
Representatives have several principal officers, our focus here is on the
Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and the Deputy
Speaker.
“As it has been the practice since 1999, whenever the Senate President is
a Christian, the Speaker of the House has always been a Muslim and
vice-versa. And the same thing happens to their deputies,” he explained.
He said the quest of the association becomes imperative due to the
existing order in the two other arms of the government.
“Today, both the President and the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria are
Muslims and our appeal is to let either the Senate President or the
Speaker be a Christian to address the religious dichotomy.
“This will give all Nigerians a sense of belonging irrespective of their
religious affiliations. And a critical study of Chapter 14 (13 and 14) of
the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) underscores this truth.
“The composition of Government of the Federation or any of its agencies
and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to
reflect federal character of Nigeria.
“Also the need to promote national unity, command national loyalty,
thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few
states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in government or in
any of its agencies.
“The composition of the government of a state, local government council,
or any of the agencies of such government or council, and conduct of
affairs of government or council or such agencies, shall be carried out in
such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of
authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among
all the people,’’ he said.
The CAN president, therefore, called on the 9th National Assembly members
to address both the religious, the North and South dichotomies in the
interest of equity, justice and fair play.
He assured the lawmakers of the association’s prayers as they make laws
for peace, order and good government.
Mr Ayokunle pleaded with both the Presidency and the leadership of the
ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to support the position of the
association in its quest to find an enduring peace, unity and development
of the nation.
“By so doing, it will go a long way in fixing some of the problems
confronting our country today that are rooted in religious, tribal
suspicion, domination and marginalisation at every level of government.
“In as much as we agree that merit should not be sacrificed in every
appointment, but there are Christians, who are equally credible and
capable of running the affairs of the National Assembly and other key
positions in the government if given the opportunity.
“Those who had and still serving in one office or the other are our living
proofs,” he said. (NAN)