CAN Kicks against ‘Lopsided’ Appointments by Niger Govt

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has kicked against over what it termed "lopsided appointments of principal officers" by the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, describing the action as "embarrassing to Christians in the state."

In the governor’s first set of appointments made last Wednesday, only Muslims were brought in as principal officers in the government.

The association had kicked against similar action by the governor in the appointments of same set of officers and commissioners in 2015.

It should also be recalled that same action by the governor caused the frosty relationship between him, the party and Senator David Umoru who is seen as the leader of Christians and people of Niger East senatorial zone.

The state CAN Chairman, Reverend Mathias Echioda, said while addressing a press conference yesterday that: "It considered the lopsidedness in the appointment of key principal officers by the governor without a single Christian as "alarming and a disappointment despite the overwhelming support Christians gave the governor during the just concluded election.

"We believe that this is equal to political robbery, and we will not take that at all because we contributed to enthroning the present administration, and we should also be part of the decision making at the highest level in terms of management, policy formulation and policy implementation."

While acknowledging "the cordial relationship it had with the administration especially during the first tenure," Echioda said  CAN had expected that  the state government would improve the relationship by giving Christians a fair share in the administration.

According to him, "We have had a very good and cordial relationship with the present administration especially during the first tenure, we appreciate the mutual respect we have enjoyed throughout the period.

"In the course of our relationship, we never relented at bringing to the fore the need for Christians to be part of the principal leaders of the state government and the explanation and excuses we had at that time was that people were appointed based on merit and participation in politics

"So with this, we went to address our people, because we motivated and encouraged them for party politics and political involvement both at the state and at the grassroots. And as much as I know the level of participation of Christians in politics, active involvement and personal sacrifices was like what every other politician could make.

"This time, we have never had it like this in the past and the question of competence, experience and expertise is not in the equation; we have our hands full, and we know that we have several competent people.”

Echioda lamented that like every other stakeholder, Christians in the state made their contributions to the overall success of the government of the state in the administration, adding regrettably that "but now that the battle has been won, of course, the dividend is supposed to go across the stakeholders, benefits everyone who participated in the elections and were actively involved and made their sacrificial contribution to the success of the present administration."

He therefore asked the governor to have a rethink as "it is not too late to correct the bad policy."