The West African nation of Nigeria “is grappling with a wave of violence by armed gangs who frequently carry out killings and kidnappings for ransom – mostly in unprotected rural communities,” BBC News reported in April.
Since 2009 when Boko Haram insurgency emerged with the aim of turning the country into an Islamic state, Nigeria has been experiencing insecurity.
Boko Haram, one of largest Islamist groups in Africa, has been orchestrating indiscriminate terrorist attacks on various targets, including religious and political groups as well as civilians.
The insecurity situation has further been complicated by the involvement of the predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen, also referred to as the Fulani Militia, who have been clashing frequently with Christian farmers.
Addressing journalists August 7, Pastor Hayab who was speaking on behalf of CAN members also reflected on the general elections scheduled for 2023.
“CAN has knocked out some politicians by certain indices. There are some that are knocked out by age, health challenges and other things that make them incapable to effectively carry out the affairs of a country like Nigeria,” he said.
The CAN official added, “We don’t waste time to continue crying about the presence of some certain candidates in the 2023 general elections in the country.”
“We as CAN, we are not worried with the big noise going on because we have simply made our point clear that we advised that inclusiveness should be the order of leadership,” Pastor Hayab further said, and continued, “Those who feel they don’t need that have made a decision and we have warned and told them that it is not good for Nigeria.”
He underscored the need for inclusivity in the leadership of Africa’s most populous nation, and said that a governance structure that combines a Muslim and a Christian at the Presidency serves to show the recognition of diversity and “the other”.
The Nigerian Pastor said, “Those with narrow thinking believe it is about one faith. It is not fair when the structure of leadership in the country does not recognize the other; hence it leads to failure. We have failed before and we don’t want to fail again.”
