The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of fanning the embers of disunity in the country through his lopsided appointments in government
The Christian elders also called on the Boko haram terrorists to release the abducted Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu and others still in captivity to prove to the nation that their repentance is genuine.The forum stated this in a statement signed by the NOSCEF Chairman, Engr. Ejoga Oyinehi Inalegwu, in Kaduna on Sunday after their EXCO meeting.
The statement reads: “We greet our nation Nigeria on the occasion of our 61st independence anniversary marked on October 1.” “We commend the war against insecurity being taken to the camps of the bandits and commend the officers and men of the Armed Forces for gallant strides being recorded. We encourage the ongoing onslaught against Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in our society.”“We join the president in appealing for a united, equitable, fair and just Nigeria to all, irrespective of religion, tribe, origin. We however, add that unity must first begin from the President himself.
“So we appeal to Mr. President to even trust the indigenous Christians from his own home state of Katsina to put in government positions, to promote a united nation across religious and tribal lines by appointing not just a section to key institutions (Customs, Inland Revenue, Accountant General etc) or strategic ministries and parastatals so they can come together and work together and appreciate themselves because of their capabilities and not privileges derivable by their religion or their tribal connections to the president.
“Same goes for the security outfits; the Police, Army, Air Force, Navy Prisons, Immigration, Civil Defence, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, etc.
The president cannot preach unity and at the same time appoint a section of Nigerians to hold sensitive positions.
“The president is not preaching unity when telling a section of Nigerians that by religion tribe and region they are not competent to hold sensitive positions in the country.The president is not preaching unity when infrastructure are targeted at only those who voted for him even the resources due to those who did not vote for him, are put in their trust to manage on their behalf.
“I guess election campaign was a display of ability to manage the resources better so because they did not think you are competent by their votes, you choose to avoid giving them infrastructure, you are by that proving them right and it is misappropriation to channel resources meant for them to your favourite.”
The elders noted further that “excluding states from utilisation of borrowed funds when those states will participate in payment on moral classification on the basis of religion, region, tribe voting patronage causes disunity.”
NOSCEF however appealed to Nigerians to continue to pray for a united and progressive country.
