The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has condemned the demand by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that the Senate President or the Speaker of the 9TH National Assembly should be of Christians Faith.
NSCIA, in a statement said the Christian Body, with its latest demand ‘qualifies to register as a political party’.
The Muslim body insisted that the previous appointments of principal officers at the National Assembly since the country returned to Civil Rule in 1999 had favoured Nigerians of Christian faith.
“Given the trajectory of the recent activities of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), like other informed groups and people in Nigeria, cannot but wonder whether CAN still remains a religious body or a political party in a religious garb,” the group said.
“The Council is persuaded to believe the latter because of the Association’s posture as the counterfoil for and opposition to everything Islam and Muslims in this country.
“Is CAN suffering from selective amnesia or is it just obsessed with chronic mendacity? Was there no CAN between 2009 and 2011 when Dr Goodluck Jonathan was the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu was the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Senator David A. B. Mark was President of the Senate, and Senator Ike Ekweremadu was Deputy Senate President? Was there religious balance in 2007 when David Mark was elected Senate President, and Patricia Etteh was elected Speaker? Was there no 1999 Constitution at that time?
“Even prior to 1999, the two arms of the National Assembly were headed by Christians.”
CAN had asked the leadership of the national assembly to balance the appointments of its principal officers across religious divides to ensure equity and fair play.