By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, has said that the initial apprehension over the Muslim/Muslim ticket of the Bola Tinubu Presidency has turned out to be misplaced and unfounded.
This is just as he insisted that President Tinubu has, within two years, corrected the perceived imbalance and marginalization of the South East in the siting of infrastructural facilities in the country.
At a Sallah get-together for Ebonyi Muslim faithful in Abakaliki, the State Capital, Umahi claimed that Christians, contrary to earlier fears of marginalization, enjoys over 62 per cent of the positions on offer within the Government.
He particularly lauded the President for his uncanny sense of religious and ethnic inclusiveness which he described as having reached an “excellent level”.
According to him, the President’s proclivity to just and fair treatment of all faiths has, in turn, bred an unprecedented level of interfaith harmony and national integration.
“The relationship among faiths in Nigeria is much better now. It surprised many Christians when the President led a Nigerian delegation to the Pope’s inauguration. That was very unique and historic”, the Works Minister stated.
He underscored the imperativeness of shared love and values among the adherents of all faiths in the country rather than a resort to divisive tendencies.
“We all serve one God in different ways. Both Muslims and Christians preach love, and the fear of God. Perhaps, it is pertinent to note that the President has allayed the fears of Christians over the Muslim/Muslim ticket.
Christians today hold about 62 % of appointments under President Tinubu, while Muslims hold about 38 % .That shows national cohesion in practice”, he further asserted.
The Works Minister maintained that there was almost a complete absence of Federal presence in the South East before the advent of the Tinubu administration.
According to him, the ugly narrative has been considerably changed with several ongoing projects
“Before now, many South East States had no Federal projects. But today, the Federal presence is visible across the region. That is true national integration”, Umahi noted.
Further speaking, Umahi commended the President for also appointing South Easterners, including himself to some key positions at the centre.
He referenced the appointment of the Chief of Naval Staff, as well as that of the Minister of Science and Technology as another instances of the reintegration process of the region
“We (South East) lost political ground in the past, but this Government is bringing it back. It is not yet uhuru, but we are longer left behind.
“We must acknowledge that and support the President. The South East must count one before counting two. We need reintegration, not isolation.
“President Tinubu’s Government has started this process. We must not waste opportunity”, he further stated.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
