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Group Rejects Governor Inuwa Commissioners Nominees Lists Over Marginalisation of Christians
A Christian Group Known as Liberation for the Christian Faith (LCF) in Gombe state has rejected Governor Mohammadu Inuwa Yahaya lists of Commissioners Nominees over what it’s described as marginalisation of the Christians in Gombe state.
The leader of the group Pastor Waziri Salisu, a clergy with the United Methodist Church in Nigeria who made this available to newsmen in a press statement, noted that out of the seventeen names submitted by the Governor to the Gombe state House of Assembly for confirmation, only two persons are Christians and all the rest are Muslims.
He said in a state where Christians constitude almost fifty percent of the total population of the people in Gombe state, it is unjustifiable to have only two Christians commissioners out of seventeen commissioners nominees.
” It is very obvious that Christians in Gombe state have been marginalised under the leadership of Governor Mohammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and this marginalisation did not start today, since his first tenure as Governor of Gombe state he has been marginalising Christians in the state with his policies and utterances. For instance, in his first term in office, Justice Beatrice L. Iliya, being the most senior judge in the state Judiciary then was suppose to be the Chief Judge of the state but the Governor vehemently refused to confirm her because she is of the Christian Faith, also his utterances after the Billiri crisis undermined the safety of Christians in the state, when he said “How Many Christians will they kill if inter-religious crisis erupts in the state” today the Christians in Gombe state have no voice due to sharp marginalisation” He said.
Pastor Salisu, noted that the lists of commissioners nominees sent to the Gombe state House of Assembly for confirmation is loop sided as it does not represent inclusive governance.
The group called on the Gombe State House of Assembly to halt the confirmation process until the Governor review the lists to accommodate more Christians in the commissioners nominees lists.
“Since the creation of Gombe state on 1st October 1996, it has been Muslims who have governed the state and the Christians in the state have enjoyed fair representation in all sectors in the state, until the tenure of Governor Mohammadu Inuwa Yahaya where Christians have no voice in the state, with little or no representation, as we are experiencing in this recent nomination of Commissioners in the state.
“Just recently in neighbouring Taraba state, Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas nominated 21 commissioners and about ten of them are Muslims despite the dominance of Christians in Taraba state, why can’t Governor Mohammadu Inuwa Yahaya learn from his colleague In Taraba and other states? Nominating two Christians to be commissioners in a state where you have Christian constituting almost fifty percent of the total population in Gombe state is unjustifiable”.
He stressed that the group is mobilising its members across the state to demonstrate a peaceful protest to the Gombe state House of Assembly if the Governor doesn’t review the lists to accommodate more Christians Commissioners Nominees.
“Gombe state is not for the Muslims alone, it belongs to all the faiths as such we demand that Christians should be given equal rights to occupy juice positions in the state.
” We want to also make it very clear that we have seen the hand writings on the wall, on the efforts of the some forces within the state government circle, who are plotting to see that a Christian is not nominated as minister in President Tinubu cabinet, so we are using this platform to also request that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not entertain any request to denial any party member who have saved the party faithfully from becoming minister because he is from the Christian faith”. He added.
Pastor Waziri Salisu however called on the Christian Association of Nigeria Gombe state Chapter to act and protect the rights of Christians in the state by speaking out on their behalf.
A former national chairman of the defunct Alliance National Party, Asiwaju Moshood Shittu, has urged opposition parties considering a merger to back former Kano State governor and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as their presidential candidate in the 2027 election.
Speaking at a press conference, Shittu, who previously served as the Director-General (North) of Kwankwaso’s presidential campaign council, emphasised that the opposition’s best chance of defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lies in uniting behind Kwankwaso.
He described him as the only aspirant with the experience, credibility, and political reach necessary to lead the coalition to victory.
“Kwankwaso has the pedigree to carry the merger’s presidential flag to success,” Shittu said. “With his vast experience in governance, clean record, and strong political followership, he stands out as the best candidate.”
He highlighted Kwankwaso’s extensive public service record, including his roles as a former defence minister, special envoy to Darfur and Somalia, and a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.
Additionally, he recalled Kwankwaso’s tenure as deputy speaker during the short-lived Third Republic, his two terms as Kano State governor, and his leadership in national security and legislative affairs.
Shittu warned that failure to rally behind Kwankwaso could spell doom for the opposition’s merger efforts.
He dismissed other opposition candidates, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, as lacking the necessary moral and qualitative competence to defeat Tinubu in 2027.
“This is the time to act in order to save our nation,” he declared. “The opposition must prioritise credibility, competence, and proven leadership if it truly seeks to unseat the incumbent president.”
Kwankwaso, who placed fourth in the 2023 presidential election, remains a key figure in Nigeria’s political landscape. However, it is unclear whether he will accept the call to lead a potential opposition coalition.
The Federal High Court has dismissed reports that the newly assigned judge in the case of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has stepped down.
The FHC, in a statement signed by the Chief Registrar, Sulaiman Hassan, on Tuesday described the report as “false and misleading.”
A publication circulating on social media had claimed that Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, was the new judge in Kanu’s case and had withdrawn, citing the illegality of his arrest.
However, in the statement, the chief registrar said the claim was “entirely unfounded, fictitious, grossly mischievous, damaging in intent and should be disregarded in its entirety.”
“The attention of Management of the Federal High Court has been drawn, with great concern, to an online reportage as above captioned.
“The court unequivocally refutes the false and misleading report, alleging that the Honourable Chief Judge, Hon. Justice John T. Tsoho, OFR, has stepped down from Nnamdi Kanu’s case and made statements regarding the legality of his arrest,” the statement read.
According to Hassan, the true position is that the Justice Tsoho, in his capacity as Chief Judge, has reassigned Nnamdi Kanu’s case from Justice Binta Nyako to another (‘new’) Judge.
Hassan said, “The report referred to, is, therefore, totally spurious.
“The defence team should hence prepare to receive instructions regarding the case, as may be issued by the new judge.
“The Federal High Court strongly cautions against deliberate misinformation to mislead the public and erode confidence in the judicial system.
“We urge the general public to be wary and rely only on verified information from official court sources.
“The court remains steadfast in upholding justice through due process of the law.”
NAN reliably gathered, however, that the case between the Federal Government and Kanu had been reassigned to Justice James Omotosho, following Justice Nyako’s recusal (withdrawal).
NAN
The House of Representatives has ordered total shutdown of porn websites nationwide.
It directed the Nigerian Communications Commission to enforce the immediate shutdown of the websites in the country.
The House gave the directive during plenary on Tuesday.
The lawmakers suggested that the internet providers must block access under the new directive.
Member representing the Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal constituency, Dalhatu Tafoki, sponsored the motion, calling it a step to “protect societal values.”
He said, “I would like to move a motion for the need to block internet websites hosting pornographic content and sanction the internet service providers responsible for the posting. The House notes that cyber pornography is fast becoming a global problem, and no concrete steps have been taken to cut its phenomenon in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a highly religious country, and all the major religions in the country forbid nudity and obscenity in any form. Also note that countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have passed legislation that bans pornography in their domains.
“Renowned psychologists and sociologists around the world have issued stern warnings that there are psychological and sociological consequences for creating ponographic content.
“The immediate effects of doing ponographic content include a. promotion of adultery, prostitution, and other promiscuous behaviours, leading to addiction, escalation, and desensitisation, change of attitude towards oneself and family.”
The House adopted the motion and mandated its Committees on Communications and Legislative Compliance to ensure its implementation and report within four weeks for further legislative action.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abass, also warned that sanctions would be imposed on internet service providers that default while lawmakers put a voice vote in favour of the motion.