The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State has urged Christian leaders and residents to support Senator Shehu Sani’s bid for the Kaduna Central senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
The association also appealed to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s successor, Governor Uba Sani, to reinstate traditional rulers removed during El-Rufai’s administration.
The appeals were made on Thursday when Shehu Sani, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kaduna Central, met with 48 zonal leaders of CAN in Sabo Tasha, Chikun LGA, to seek their prayers and support ahead of the elections.
The CAN chairman in Chikun urged the former senator to use his relationship with Governor Uba Sani to facilitate the return of the affected traditional rulers, saying their reinstatement would promote reconciliation and strengthen relations between the government and the communities.
He expressed confidence that restoring the traditional rulers would attract significant electoral support for the APC-led government in Kaduna State in 2027.
The association also called on Governor Uba Sani to elevate the Sa Gbagyi traditional stool to first-class status, arguing that Chikun deserved the recognition because it hosts the state capital.
The CAN leadership said the elevation would reflect the importance of the Gbagyi traditional institution and the strategic position of Chikun in the state.
It further appealed for more political appointments for indigenes of the local government, lamenting that Chikun currently has no commissioner in the Kaduna State cabinet.
Welcoming Sani, the CAN chairman described the visit as significant, noting that the former senator was the first politician to approach the Christian community for such an engagement.
He said the meeting provided an opportunity for residents to communicate their concerns and expectations to political leaders.
The chairman also cautioned against portraying the APC as a party belonging to a particular religious group, insisting that it should accommodate Nigerians irrespective of their faith.
“The APC is for everybody. It should not be seen as a party belonging to one religion,” he said.
He added that Chikun had qualified professionals who could contribute to governance if given opportunities to serve.
Speaking during the engagement, Sani urged pastors to rise above religious and ethnic sentiments when making political decisions, saying Nigeria needed leaders capable of uniting people across different divides.
He cautioned against what he described as selective empathy in responding to killings and insecurity, insisting that the lives of victims should matter regardless of their religious or ethnic identities.
The former senator said the condemnation of violence should not depend on whether victims belonged to a particular religious or ethnic group, stressing that every Nigerian deserved protection.
He also questioned the silence of some political and religious actors over security challenges during previous administrations, urging Nigerians to apply the same standards of accountability to leaders across political divides.
Sani argued that opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration should be based on an objective assessment of government policies and performance rather than ethnic or religious considerations.
He challenged opposition politicians to account for their records in public office and explain their contributions to improving the lives of Nigerians instead of concentrating solely on criticising the current administration.
The APC senatorial candidate also encouraged pastors and Christian leaders to participate actively in politics, saying religious leaders should not completely abandon the political space to politicians.
He said the visit was aimed at building bridges across religious communities, seeking the prayers of Christian leaders and securing their support ahead of the 2027 Kaduna Central senatorial election.
The meeting ended with a special prayer led by Bishop Joe Yari.
The association also appealed to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s successor, Governor Uba Sani, to reinstate traditional rulers removed during El-Rufai’s administration.
The appeals were made on Thursday when Shehu Sani, the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kaduna Central, met with 48 zonal leaders of CAN in Sabo Tasha, Chikun LGA, to seek their prayers and support ahead of the elections.
The CAN chairman in Chikun urged the former senator to use his relationship with Governor Uba Sani to facilitate the return of the affected traditional rulers, saying their reinstatement would promote reconciliation and strengthen relations between the government and the communities.
He expressed confidence that restoring the traditional rulers would attract significant electoral support for the APC-led government in Kaduna State in 2027.
The association also called on Governor Uba Sani to elevate the Sa Gbagyi traditional stool to first-class status, arguing that Chikun deserved the recognition because it hosts the state capital.
The CAN leadership said the elevation would reflect the importance of the Gbagyi traditional institution and the strategic position of Chikun in the state.
It further appealed for more political appointments for indigenes of the local government, lamenting that Chikun currently has no commissioner in the Kaduna State cabinet.
Welcoming Sani, the CAN chairman described the visit as significant, noting that the former senator was the first politician to approach the Christian community for such an engagement.
He said the meeting provided an opportunity for residents to communicate their concerns and expectations to political leaders.
The chairman also cautioned against portraying the APC as a party belonging to a particular religious group, insisting that it should accommodate Nigerians irrespective of their faith.
“The APC is for everybody. It should not be seen as a party belonging to one religion,” he said.
He added that Chikun had qualified professionals who could contribute to governance if given opportunities to serve.
Speaking during the engagement, Sani urged pastors to rise above religious and ethnic sentiments when making political decisions, saying Nigeria needed leaders capable of uniting people across different divides.
He cautioned against what he described as selective empathy in responding to killings and insecurity, insisting that the lives of victims should matter regardless of their religious or ethnic identities.
The former senator said the condemnation of violence should not depend on whether victims belonged to a particular religious or ethnic group, stressing that every Nigerian deserved protection.
He also questioned the silence of some political and religious actors over security challenges during previous administrations, urging Nigerians to apply the same standards of accountability to leaders across political divides.
Sani argued that opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration should be based on an objective assessment of government policies and performance rather than ethnic or religious considerations.
He challenged opposition politicians to account for their records in public office and explain their contributions to improving the lives of Nigerians instead of concentrating solely on criticising the current administration.
The APC senatorial candidate also encouraged pastors and Christian leaders to participate actively in politics, saying religious leaders should not completely abandon the political space to politicians.
He said the visit was aimed at building bridges across religious communities, seeking the prayers of Christian leaders and securing their support ahead of the 2027 Kaduna Central senatorial election.
The meeting ended with a special prayer led by Bishop Joe Yari.