The National Coordinator of the Young Christian Democrats (YCD), Mr. Ezekiel Dinfa, has asserted that only a President who is a Northern Christian can adequately protect Northern Christians and minority groups from Islamist extremism and terrorism threatening the region.
Dinfa made the statement in reaction to remarks by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his recent visit to Jos, where the President urged Plateau residents and Northern Christians to support him, citing his respect for religious freedom and the fact that his wife is a pastor.
In his response, Dinfa said, “This is not the time for that kind of statement President Tinubu is making. Even Southern Christians do not fully understand what Northern Christians are going through — only a Northern Christian does.”
He further disclosed that the group has already identified a capable candidate in Dr. Joel Gbenga Hashim, who is running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Dr. Hashim is a successful entrepreneur and one of the founding members of the PDP. He understands both national security and economic management,” Dinfa stated.
He described Dr. Hashim as “a fair-minded democrat who will also protect Muslims because, like many Northern Christians, he has Muslim roots.”
Dinfa added that Dr. Hashim represents the true unifier Nigeria needs, noting his mixed Northern and Southern heritage. “Like our own son, General Yakubu Gowon, who reunited Nigeria after the civil war, Dr. Hashim has the capacity to manage Nigeria’s diversity. Most of the current aspirants do not even understand the country,” he said.