The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Niger State Chapter, has criticised Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago over comments on Christian participation in partisan politics.
The PFN said political participation should not be a condition for fair treatment or consideration for public appointments.
The state PFN Chairman, Pastor PeteRock Sadiq, stated this during a press briefing in Minna.
Sadiq said a governor is elected by the people and has a duty to serve all citizens, regardless of their religion or political affiliation.
He said Bago may have emerged as a candidate of a political party, but became governor of the entire state after winning the election.
“A father is fair to his children because he is a father, not because the children campaigned for him,” Sadiq said.
The PFN chairman was reacting to comments reportedly made by the governor’s Christian Coordinator in Niger State, Lawrence Isah, during the 14th anniversary of House on the Rock Ministry in Minna.
According to Sadiq, the Christian community was told that Christians must participate fully in partisan politics before they could expect to be considered for appointments.
The PFN chairman disagreed with the position, saying not everyone who can contribute to government must belong to a political party.
He said Niger State needs qualified professionals, including doctors, engineers, teachers, economists, administrators and other technocrats.
Sadiq said many qualified Christians may not participate actively in party politics but could still contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
He also said the high cost of politics and other challenges within the political system may discourage some qualified people from partisan politics.
“Participation in partisan politics must not be made the price of fair treatment,” he said.
Sadiq said Christians in the state already participate in elections by registering, collecting their Permanent Voter Cards and voting.
He therefore urged the governor to ensure fairness, merit and broad representation in his administration.
The PFN chairman also called on Christians to become more active in civic affairs by obtaining their voter cards, assessing candidates based on competence and character, voting and holding elected leaders accountable.
He stressed that the PFN was not demanding political appointments as a favour but was asking for equal treatment and fairness for qualified citizens