The Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has appealed to the State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, to desist from making “reckless” statements that could further divide the residents along religious and ethnic lines.
The governor, who had while featuring on a live Channels TV morning programme known as Sunrise Daily, stated that Muslims make up 70 per cent of the population in the state to Christians 30 per cent.
Angered by the governor’s assertion, the Christian body rejected the claim, adding that the governor’s statement has the tendency of splitting the people of the state along religious lines.
The Secretary of the CAN in Kaduna State, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, who spoke to journalists disputed the governor’s claim, adding that statistics have shown that Christians even have the higher population in the state by five percent.
“It is very surprising to hear that coming out from the Governor. What I know is that there are data that could be made available to whoever that cares to see.
“We are very surprised that a leader could come out to say what he says because the Christian and Muslim population is about 50/50. Some data show that Christians are 55 per cent and Muslim are 45 per cent in terms of population.
“We are surprised that the governor could come out to say Muslims have 70 per cent population of Kaduna State while Christians have 30 per cent.
“He should have verified his fact before coming out to make the statement on a national television.
“We stand to say no to that very pronouncement from the governor. We don’t accept that to be true.”
“The statement by the governor has the tendency of further dividing the State along religious line. Such statements could bring ignite problems in the State. As a governor he should try to verify issue that are very sensitive before voicing it out to the public,” the CAN scribe said.
