2023: Christian youths reject same religion candidates, back rotation

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) has warned political parties, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against fielding a presidential candidate and running mate from the same religion.

While supporting the clamour for rotational presidency, the youths maintained that a Christian/Christian ticket or a Muslim/Muslim ticket would not be a true expression of equity, fairness and justice for Nigerians.

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YOWICAN made the submissions in a communiqué signed by its chairman, Belusochukwu Enwere, and secretary, Bako Elijah, at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting Wesnesday in Abuja.

Enwere, who read the communiqué, also urged the federal government to work with those who claimed to know terrorists, bandits and their hideouts to identify and arrest them to stop further breaching of the peace and security of the country.

The Christian youths noted that an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, had been negotiating between government and bandits.

While condemning the incessant killings in parts of the country, Enwere warned that if the menace of insecurity was not checked, it would most likely cripple farming and other economic activities in the 2022 farming season and negatively affect the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections.

He, therefore, urged the federal and Kaduna State governments to expedite action towards the release of those abducted by bandits from the ill-fated Abuja-Kaduna train.