Christian Association of Nigeria warns APC against Muslim/Muslim National Assembly leadership

CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (Can) officials in Imo State have warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against adopting a Muslim/Muslim ticket when it comes to the leadership of the National Assembly.

On May 29, the ninth national assembly will be inaugurated and its first task will be to elect new leaders, including the senate president, deputy senate president, speaker of the House of representatives and deputy speaker. Campaigning is currently in full swing with Senator Ahmad Lawan of Yobe North the frontrunner to become senate president.

With several other lawmakers also jostling for position, Can's Imo State chapter warned that any attempt to put Muslims in almost all the key positions was a subtle plot to Islamise Nigeria, with the help of some Christians. Dr Divine Eches, the Imo State chapter of Can, said that most key positions in the country are currently occupied by Muslims.

He added that these include the heads of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Customs Service, Department of State Security Services, the Nigeria Police Force; Nigeria Immigration Service, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Intelligence Agency. Dr Eches called on the incoming Christian members of the National Assembly to resist the move to allow the leadership to be hijacked by Muslims.

Dr Eches added:  “We should watch out for a grand plot at the National Assembly to have a Muslim/ Muslim ticket for House of Representatives and a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the senate because a woman is known by the religion of her husband. I call on all Christian National Assembly members to rise up to the occasion and stop by God’s means the evil plot to finally hand over our nation to Islam.

“I appeal to church leaders to pray, preach and teach against this, speak out against this and educate our Christian politicians on the dangers of this plot. I call on the federal government not to take for granted, the silent and calm disposition of Nigerian Christians, as this will seriously destroy the image of APC and place it as a regional and religious political party which must not return to power come 2023.”

He maintained that legislators were elected into the National Assembly not just to protect the interest of their community but that of Christians in Nigeria. Dr Eches noted that past presidents Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua and Dr Goodluck Jonathan all worked with speakers and senate presidents from other regions and religions.

 “We are only left with a choice for the first time since 1999 to choose between a Muslim and a Muslim both at the presidential election and the National Assembly principal offices. This is the first time that a Muslim/Muslim ticket is being championed for the National Assembly principal offices," Dr Eches added.