President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said political appointees for his second term will be selected based on merit and national spread. He spoke when he met religous leaders at the State House in Abuja, and assured them of his commitment to leave Nigeria better than he met it in 2015.
Buhari separately received the Christian Association
of Nigeria (CAN) led by Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, and Imams and senior
Muslim clerics from across the country led by Professor Shehu Galadanci.
He affirmed that his administration would continue to address important
national challenges including security, economy and corruption.
“We
will continue to strive for peaceful co-existence among all Nigerians
irrespective of their religious beliefs. In the area of allocation of
political offices, our focus will be on merit and national spread such
that every part of Nigeria will have a sense of belonging.
‘‘We
remain resolute in the fight against terrorism and insurgency, and
efforts to bring back all those in captivity and other victims of
kidnappings will be intensified,’’ he said.
Commending
the important roles religious bodies played in the last four years of
the administration, Buhari pledged to continue supporting several
programmes anchored by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC)
geared towards peace, tolerance, unity and harmony.
Speaking
after the meeting held behind closed doors, Ayokunle said the
association was not under pressure to congratulate Buhari. “This
delegation has come on behalf of CAN to congratulate you for victory and
for being declared winner by INEC at the just-concluded 2019
presidential election.
“Our prayer for you is that God shall
grant you everything it takes to perform hundred times better than your
first term. We pray that your administration leads Nigeria to become the
glory and pride of nations in Africa and a country many people would
desire to be, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
“Please
count on this organization as one that has the success of your
administration at heart. In that respect, we would not cease in praying
for you and speaking out about what is expected to be done from time to
time in keeping with the Bible, the word of God,” he said.
The
association urged the president to ensure ethnic and religious balance
in the selection of the leadership of the National Assembly.
The religious leaders solicited for deliberate and relentless effort to free Leah Sharibu, and the Chibok girls, from captivity.
At
a separate meeting, the Muslim clerics urged the president to end
kidnapping, illicit drugs consumption, among others in the country.
Galadanci,
who led the clerics, said: “Your victory, no doubt, demonstrates that
the desire of the majority of Nigerians is to ensure the continuity of
your administration to the next level. We pray that Almighty Allah will
grant you the ability to continue with the excellent work you have been
doing.”
Source:- Dailytrustng
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