Get Guardian on Google…Seeks Return of Traditional Rulers Sacked By El-Rufai’s Govt
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State has urged Christian leaders and residents to support the 2027 Kaduna Central Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Shehu Sani, while appealing for the reinstatement of traditional rulers removed during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The CAN chairman in Chikun made the appeal on Thursday when Sani met with 48 zonal leaders of the Association in Sabo Tasha, headquarters of the local government area, to seek their prayers and support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The chairman urged the former Senator to leverage his relationship with Governor Uba Sani to facilitate the return of the affected traditional rulers, saying such a move would promote reconciliation and strengthen relations between the government and the affected communities.
He expressed optimism that reinstating the monarchs would generate massive electoral support for the APC-led administration in Kaduna State during the 2027 elections.
The CAN chairman also appealed to Governor Uba Sani to upgrade the Sa Gbagyi traditional stool to first-class status, arguing that Chikun, which hosts the Kaduna State capital, deserved such recognition.
He said the elevation would reflect the importance of the Gbagyi traditional institution and the strategic position of Chikun in the state, urging the governor to consider the request in the interest of the people.
The CAN Leadership also appealed for more political appointments for Chikun indigenes, lamenting that the local government currently had no commissioner in the Kaduna State cabinet.
Welcoming Sani, the chairman described the visit as significant, noting that the former senator was the first politician to approach the Christian community for such an engagement.
He said the meeting provided an opportunity for the community to communicate its concerns and expectations to political leaders.
The CAN chairman also cautioned against portraying the APC as a party belonging to a particular religious group, insisting that it should accommodate Nigerians irrespective of their religious affiliations.
“The APC is for everybody. It should not be seen as a party belonging to one religion,” he said.
He further lamented what he described as the inadequate representation of Chikun in the distribution of political appointments, arguing that the local government had qualified professionals capable of contributing meaningfully to governance.
“We are appealing that in the next dispensation, Chikun should be considered for key political appointments. We have qualified people who can serve,” he said.
Speaking during the engagement, Sani urged pastors to rise above religious and ethnic sentiments when making political choices, arguing that Nigeria needed leaders capable of uniting people across different divides.
He cautioned against what he described as selective empathy in responding to killings and insecurity, insisting that the lives of victims should matter irrespective of their religious or ethnic identities.
The former senator maintained that the condemnation of violence should not depend on whether victims belonged to a particular religious or ethnic group, stressing that every Nigerian deserved protection.
He also questioned the silence of some political and religious actors over security challenges during previous administrations, urging Nigerians to apply the same standards of accountability to leaders across political divides.
Sani further argued that opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration should not be driven solely by ethnic or religious considerations but should be based on an objective assessment of government policies and performance.
He challenged opposition politicians to account for their records in public office and explain their contributions to improving the lives of Nigerians rather than concentrating solely on criticising the current administration.
The APC senatorial candidate also encouraged pastors and Christian leaders to participate actively in politics, saying religious leaders should not completely abandon the political space to politicians.
He said his visit was aimed at building bridges across religious communities, seeking the prayers of the pastors and securing their support ahead of the 2027 Kaduna Central senatorial election.
The meeting ended with a special prayer led by Bishop Joe Yari.
