By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The in-coming Governor of Niger state, Hon. Umar Mohammed Bago, has called on Christians in the state to be rest assured that the administration he would preside over will carry everyone along and nobody will be discriminated against on the grounds of religious, tribal or regional leanings.
Bago who was quick to add that the beginning of the administration may be rough for reasons he did not explain, but encouraged the Christians from the various denominations in Niger state to continue to pray for the in-coming administration in the state to succeed.
Speaking at the pre-inaugural church service which took place at the St. Michael’s Cathedral Church, Minna on Sunday, Bago encouraged Christians to have no fears but to ignore religious fanatics who use religion to cover up their administrative weaknesses.
The Chancellor of the Anglican Communion, Anglican Diocese of Minna, Barr. Abraham Yisa Ndaa’na, had earlier in a goodwill message, told the in-coming Governor to, ‘lead with the fear of God so that you will have followers’.
Yisa reminded Umar Bago that the people are indeed angry and there is bitterness in the land. "People are hungry and they are not happy the way things are going". He prayed that the first four years of the in-coming dispensation will unite and not divide Nigerlites the more.
While pleading with Bago not to tow the path of religious biasness in the composition of his cabinet, Yisa reminded him that Christians in the state have been seriously marginalised and therefore wants the trend to change in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice for all.
Abraham Yisa also reminded the in-coming government that Christians have not benefited as their Moslem counterparts from state government sponsorship of pilgrimages in recent past and therefore wants the Bago led administration to close ranks and ensure equity for all.
He also wants the Bago led administration to re-consider the re-introduction of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) in schools and as well engage teachers to teach the subject in public schools as a way of using religion to change the society for the better.
Also speaking, the chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger state branch, Most Rev. Doc Bulus Yohanna, congratulated Bago and his Deputy for their election victory and urged them to carry everyone along irrespective of religious, tribal or regional considerations.
The CAN chairman who prayed that the first term of Bago will be more of testimonies for all citizenry, however reminded Christians who would be appointed into positions of authority in the state that leadership is a call to serve and not for self aggrandizement.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondent reports that prayers were offered during the inter-denominational service by selected men of God for the success of the Bago and Comrade Garba Mohammed led administration to bring about unity, an end to insecurity and others vices in Niger state. NNL.
