File photo: President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with Christian Leaders
In a statement by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) by its
President, Samson Ayokunle, on Monday, CAN again accused President
Muhammadu Buhari of unduly favouring Muslims from Northern Nigeria in
federal appointments.
CAN who was reacting to three of the latest appointments approved
by the president in different federal agencies, restated its earlier
allegation against Buhari, describing the recent appointments as
lopsided and against the spirit of a united Nigeria.
Part of the statement read: “Mr Buhari on September 1 appointed
Abbas Umar as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing
and Minting Company, on September 13 he appointed Yusuf Magaji Bichi,
from Kano State to replace Matthew Seiyefa from Bayelsa who had been
operating in an acting capacity since Lawal Daura was sacked in his
absence; and on September 14, he also appointed Zainab Ahmed as the
acting Finance Minister to replace Mrs Kemi Adeosun who resigned as a
result of her failure to participate in the NYSC programme and for
parading a forged NYSC Certificate of Exemption.”
“The composition of the 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 the federal character of Nigeria and the need to
promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby
ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few state
or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in
any of its agencies.”
CAN which has been very critical of the present administration,
also accused Buhari of neglecting Nigerians and allowing the persistence
of the Fulani herdsmen crisis.
“By failing to curb the attacks of the Fulani herdsmen
President Buhari has failed to uphold Section 14, Para. 2 (b) in the
Constitution that ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the
primary purpose of government.
“The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria
(MACBAN) has been threatening those who condemn their nefarious
activities in the Middle belt where thousands of our members are being
killed with impunity, yet the association that has a lot of things in
common with terrorist organisations are not only being treated with kid
gloves by the security agencies, but their aggressive attacks on the
innocent people are being justified by the President, the Defence
Minister, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Information and the
Inspector General of Police.
“The Boko Haram Islamic terrorist organisation has not ceased
attacking and killing our people, they are abducting our members on a
daily basis and despite all our hues and cries, the federal government
and the security agencies have refused to liberate Leah Sharibu and
others in the enclave of this blood-sucking terrorist group because of
their faith,” the Christian association said.