BY NONYELUM JULIET EKWENUGO
Kaduna
The Leadership of Arewa Youth Parliament has decried recent unfortunate development within the Nigerian sociopolitical space, which is aimed at dividing us along religious and ethnic lines particularly as it has to do with the appointment of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, Speaker of the paliament Hon. Yahaya Salisu said, the recent utterances by some of our Northern Religious clerics and elites on the status of the Minister of FCT, that it should belong to only one Faith and ethnic group and calling for the removal of the Minister is totally uncalled for andnumacv
He posited that Nigeria is a democratic Republic with each Nigerian having equal rights as the other, and as such, the seat of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT)belongs to any qualified Nigerian, irrespective of tribe or religion as the appointing order (President) may deem fit to appoint.
“We therefore condemn in strong terms this unpatriotic utterances which is capable of fanning the embers of disunity and hatred amongst the peace loving Nigerians.Nigeria is going through a healing process under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,a Muslim.
“It is important that Muslim clerics should support his administration to ensure that Justice, equity and good governance is served on the Nigerian populace,which is one of the tenets of Islam.This is the time for each and every Nigerian to embrace one another in other to overcome this challenging times.We should shun hate speeches and malicious rumour mongering as it is capable of setting our dear county ablaze”.
The Speaker recalled that, “recently some unpatriotic set of people went on social media alleging that the FCT Minister has concluded plans to demolish part of the Abuja Central Mosque which was later confirmed by same Abuja Central Mosque Authority that it was totally false.
“This type of political propaganda is very unfortunate and highly condemnable. The Minister of FCT, Barr Wike together with the Minister of State for FCT Dr Mariya a Hausa Muslim from the core northern state of Kano State are harmoniously working hard to reposition the Federal Capital city with a befitting status that we will all be proud of. We should please encourage them.
“The Arewa Youth Parliament have been following up the activities of Barr Wike with keen interest and so far, we have not found any element of anti- Islam or anti Northern Nigeria (Arewa) utterances or action and therefore wish to use this medium to Pass a Vote of Confidence on him and urge him to continue doing his best to live up to the high expectations of President Tinubu and well meaning Nigerians especially by restoring the Abuja master plan,ensuring effective service delivery and proper administration of the FCT in all facets”.
He urged the minister to remain focused, resolute and not be distracted by agents provocateurs who are out for their selfish interest, adding that as youth who look up to good leaders as role models, they are proud to say Wike’s leadership credibility and capacity to deliver on his mandate speaks for him anyday, anytime.
“Finally, may we use this medium to call on our fellow Arewa Youths to disregard any call for demonstration or campaign of calumny against the FCT Minister who is busy uniting both religions for a better FCT and Nigeria at large.We should refuse to be used as tools of destruction by some people who will not use their God given position to empower us,rather want to use us for selfish reasons” the Speaker stressed.
