Chairman, National Conference, Justice Idris
Kutigi (rtd), yesterday said there is no plan to undermine the interest of
Christians at the conference.
Kutigi, who spoke through his Assistant
Secretary (Media and Communications) Mr. Apandem James, described as misleading
the protest of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the composition
of the conference’s committee on religion.
CAN on Tuesday faulted the composition of the
religion committee alleging that Kutigi deliberately tilted the composition of
the committee in favour of Muslims.
The Christian apex body specifically said
that Kutigi tactically chose Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu as Chairman of Religion
committee in order to control the committee from the back door.
But Kutigi noted that there was no truth in
the claim.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been
drawn to a misleading statement issued by Mr Sunny Oibe, who signed as the
Director (National Issues) in the Secretariat of the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN). There is no truth whatsoever in the unfortunate alarm raised in
the press statement which tends to give the impression of an attempt to
undermine Christians in the National Conference.
“In trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments,
Oibe claimed that the Committee on Religion is made up of 12 Muslims and eight
Christians. That is not correct. The Committee has 21 members – 11 Muslims and
10 Christians.
“It must be noted that delegates were asked
to submit names of three committees they would prefer to serve, in order of
preference. Seven Christians indicated Religion as their first choice, four as
second and two as third choice.
“That brought the total number of Christians
to 13. Three Muslims made Religion their first choice, seven made it their
second choice and eight made it their third choice bringing the total number to
20.
“However, some of those who had other
committees as first and second choices were placed in the primary committees of
choice leaving the Committee on Religion with a lesser number than was required
to form a full Committee.
“It must also be noted that the official list
of delegates showed that both Muslims and Christians have six representations
each; which means that only 12 out of the 492 delegates are at the conference
as Christian and Muslim leaders.”
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