Niger Guber 2027: Group Demands Christian Deputy Slot – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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Chinwendu Nnadozie

Faith based group, Coalition of Concerned Christian Stakeholders in Niger state, has made a strong case for a Christian deputy governorship slot in the spirit of; equity, fairness and justice for every Nigerlite.

Niger state has the two religions, Islam and Christianity as majority, but unfortunately Christians are relegated to the background and in some cases treated as second class citizens when it comes to not only in political appointments but job placement and securing admission in schools.

Addressing journalists in Minna on the glaring discrepancy between adherents of the two religions, Chairman of the Coalition, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa said it is disheartening to seeing moslems being accorded preferential treatment when both Christians and Muslims line up for jobs, appointments and as well in securing admissions.

Jonathan Vatsa flanked by the Coalition Secretary, Comrade Jude Johnson and other members of the Christian body said the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration have treated Christians unfairly.

Niger state, the group argued had a Christian Deputy Governor in the person of, Dr. Shem Zagbayi during the late Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor.

The administration that took over from late Abdulkhadir Kure had Christians at intervals as Secretary to State Government (SSG), Chief of Staff (CoS) and appreciable number of Commissioners who are Christians.

They however regretted that the marginalization of Christians started with the APC as the former Governor, now Senator Sani Bello had no single Christian that played any significant role in the eight years of his administration.

Christians in the state, they argued patiently endured eight years of marginalization, adding that the trend unfortunately continued when Governor Bago who at one time claimed to be partly a Christian came on board.

Vatsa and his group said they can no longer keep quiet while their rights or entitlements as law abiding citizens of Niger state and Nigeria at large is being deprived of them.

“Christians have been unfairly treated by the APC administration in virtually all segments of the society, is it job placement, political appointment, or securing admission to our children”, adding that Christians can no longer keep quiet over the issue.

“In so many other areas, Christians in this state have been treated as if they are not indigenes while people who are not even Nigerians or that they are from another part of Nigeria but using religion and language advantage has unfettered access to accruable benefits from Niger state”.

Jonathan Vatsa said available records indicated that there are almost more non-Nigerlites who ate moslems on the state’s payroll than Christians who are from Niger state, adding that the situation has gotten so bad that Christians are speaking out for the whole world to hear and know what Christians are going through in the state.

The Coalition is therefore calling on the APC administration under Governor Umar Bago to show in practical terms that he is not biased against Christians by chosing a Christian Deputy Governor from among the eminently qualified Christian party members that can suit the purpose and as well, balancing the discrepancy ahead of next year’s general elections.

While insisting that both Christians, Muslims and even traditional worshipers have lived peacefully with each other over the years, Vatsa urged Governor Bago to ensure that, “Religion does not divide Niger state but to ensure that issues relating to faith serve as instrument of unification”.

Vatsa who said that the Coalition is not unmindful of the party’s zoning arrangements said there are more than enough Christians who are members of the party qualified to be his Deputy from the three Senatorial districts.