By Steve Oni, Ilorin

Kwara state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of marginalising the Christians in all his policies and appointments since he assumed office on May 29, 2019.

In an open letter to the governor, signed by Rev. (Dr.) Reuben Idowu Ibitoye and Most Rev. Paul Olawoore, Chairman and Secretary respectively, CAN lamented that none of the nine Federal Legislators from Kwara State is a Christian, saying it was a situation that ordinarily should spark off suspicion of an agenda because such a development was not a result of drought of astute Christian politicians in the processes that culminated in the emergence of candidates for those positions.

Despite the ongoing war against COVID – 19 pandemic resulting in lockdown of the state, CAN expressed utter dismay at the speed at which AbdulRazaq started to rush appointments which excluded Christians, describing the unprecedented lopsidedness in all the appointments so far made by his administration as a negation of his promise, while being sworn in, to be fair and just to all residents of the state.

CAN said: “Our frustrations and why we resorted to writing an open letter:
Your Excellency may wish to note that this open letter became our last option, after several efforts made to meet your Excellency privately to table our observations on several issues including the pressing issue of technical ban placed on prayer and preaching in our Schools by the Honorable Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development proved abortive. We have managed that absurd policy with optimal maturity and avoided media altercation in the belief that Your Excellency will be available for a quick resolution of the matter and other connected issues. But to our utter dismay the events of recent times and your evasiveness leave us with no other option than to shout out if our whispers are too inaudible for Your Excellency’s ears.

“Our action is thus premised on the fact that we sense a hidden agenda in the rush of all appointments at a crucial stage when lives should be rescued and secured, knowing fully that appointees are not going to resume work during this stay –back- at -home period.

“We are sad that while churches and mosques are stopped from carrying out their operations, Your Excellency’s preoccupation revolves around making controversial appointments and the last set of it was a shock at the expense of the emergence and presence of COVID-19 in your state.

“As it stands today, almost all the appointments so far made by Your Excellency do not reflect sensitivity to the religious plurality of the State. On coming on board of this government under your leadership on May 29, 2019, Your Excellency promised to be fair to all Kwarans. However, right from that time till date, the Christians are yet to see a true reflection of that promise. For instance, the first three appointments you made; the Chief of Staff, the Secretary to the State Government and Chief Press Secretary and later that of the Deputy Chief of Staff did not include a single Christian. Yet, the Deputy Chief of Staff slot has always been reserved for a Christian once the Chief of Staff is a Muslim.

“Out of the 16 commissioners that were appointed, only five are Christians while all Special Advisers are non-Christians. This indicates that out of the 26 member-state Executive Council, only six including the Deputy Governor are Christians;

“None of the Chairmen of the Governing Boards of all Statutory Boards and Commissions i.e Kwara State Civil Service Commission, Kwara State Judicial Service Commission, Kwara State House of Assembly Commission, Kwara State Polytechnic Board, Kwara State University(KWASU)Board, Local Government Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission, International Aviation College and IVTEC just to mention but a few so far appointed is a Christian.

“Still in continuation of the marginalisation, appointments of both the Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic and the Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University were schemed against the emergence of suitably qualified Christian academics.

“Again, out of the eight Permanent Secretaries so far appointed by your Excellency, only two are Christians. Coupled with this is the unholy appointment of junior staff to superintend as Acting General managers over their most senior colleagues who are Christians in two of the three media houses in the State.

“Meanwhile, none of the heads of the following agencies so far appointed by Your Excellency is a Christian: Kwara State Water Corporation, Kwara State Bureau of Land as well as Harmony Holdings Limited.”

CAN has therefore demanded fair representation of Christians in all aspects of governance in the State and reiterated its willingness to be available for sincere dialogue that would lead to a redress and reversal of this dangerous trend, adding: “Having patiently borne with previous appointments that were grossly unfair to our faith, Kwara State Christians are not happy with this latest demonstration of unprecedented marginalisation and discrimination against us in all spheres of governance in the State. We therefore reject the appointments, particularly of the heads of statutory bodies and ask for an immediate review to reflect our plurality as a state.”
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