Any Political Party That Neglects Northern Christians Does So At Its Peril – ACIPA

The Arewa Christians Association and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA), has warned that any political party or candidate that neglects Arewa (Northern) Christians shall do so at their peril.

ACIPA particularly expressed dismay and sadness over what it described as ‘the hijack of Nigeria’s political process’ by a few money bag politicians with the tacit conspiracy of some of our legislatures and the Presidency.

This was as it assured that it shall be consulting widely in the days ahead for a definite decision on who to endorse as the President of Nigeria in the 2023 elections.

ACIPA also declared that it shall not be part of the delusion that all is well with the primaries and the nation’s democracy, saying that the recently concluded primary elections of the major political parties have a public semblance of transparency.

It pointedly said that there was a covert inducement of delegates through a well-orchestrated machinery which influenced the emergence of party flag bearers at the governorship and presidential primaries.

In a statement by Rev. Luke Shehu, chairman of ACIPA, said that the rights of over two hundred million Nigerians to choose their candidates was denied through an indirect election preferred by those who desire to perpetually control Nigeria.

It further said that the selection or election process was between money bag aspirants, desperate old recirculating politicians and a few delegate merchants thus denying majority of Nigerians their true choices.

ACIPA also said; “It became imperative at this critical moment of charting the path to our great destiny as a nation for the Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA) to make our position clear and defined.

“Notwithstanding the inherent weakness in the process of the election of the parties flag bearers, we are aware of the intent of religious bigots or those sympathetic to radical Islam to hijack Nigeria into a full-fledged Muslim control with a sham democracy.

“We are aware of the plan for a Muslim-Muslim ticket or an alternative “use” of Christian running mate to be Vice President to assuage the Christians while promoting Islamic agenda.

“This was evident with how the office of the present Vice President was reduced to a mere errand position. We knew “they” will never allow him win the primaries after he was used. This is unacceptable to ACIPA, our networking partners and indeed all Christians in the next dispensation.

“ACIPA strongly advice Christian leaders never to compromise our democracy to those sympathetic to radical Islamist and religious bigots yet they pretend to be lovers of  humanity, peace, democracy and unity while in truth they believe in the supremacy of their religious doctrine above others.

Also, we wish to draw the attention of Nigerians to the fact that, from our intelligence, there are candidates who are sympathetic to the promotion of LGBT. In view of our Christian and moral values, this also is unacceptable to ACIPA as it is to majority of Nigerians.

“Therefore, ACIPA shall not support any candidate who covertly or overtly supports LGBT,” it said.