{"id":8058,"date":"2013-08-10T00:39:47","date_gmt":"2013-08-10T00:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/makarfi-cautions-arewa-against-supporting-candidates-based-on-religious-sentiments\/"},"modified":"2013-08-10T00:39:47","modified_gmt":"2013-08-10T00:39:47","slug":"makarfi-cautions-arewa-against-supporting-candidates-based-on-religious-sentiments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/makarfi-cautions-arewa-against-supporting-candidates-based-on-religious-sentiments\/","title":{"rendered":"Makarfi Cautions Arewa Against Supporting Candidates Based On Religious Sentiments"},"content":{"rendered":"
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THE Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Ahmed Makarfi, has advised Nigerians to elect candidates based on their ability, rather than religious affiliation, to promote peace and unity in the country.<\/p>\n

  Makarfi said this Friday in Kaduna when he received a delegation of Arewa Christians\u2019 Political Forum (ACPF) at his residence.<\/p>\n

  He advised the group to ensure the unity of the North by not championing overzealous politicians based on religious sentiments, which was capable of destroying the corporate existence in the region.<\/p>\n

  \u201cAs a nation, the basic requirement for good governance is security, and this requires all stakeholders to pursue it holistically,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Makarfi as urging the Forum to support quality leadership that would ensure peace, security and development, adding that he would do his best to assist the members in their quest.<\/p>\n

  Earlier, spokesman of the Forum, Victor Bobai, said the visit was in line with the group\u2019s wider consultations to sensitise and mobilise political support in preparations for the 2015 elections.<\/p>\n

  He said the inequality and non-effective representation of Christians in the North led to the emergence of the Forum.<\/p>\n

  Bobai stated that the forum is a voice for marginalised Northern Christians from the northern states, adding: \u201cChristian youth in the North should be given equal opportunities, like their Muslim counterparts in the region.<\/p>\n

  \u201cOur growth has been stunted, based on discrimination. We call on our leaders to come to our aid.<\/p>\n

  \u201cWe require balance, in terms of amenities, like the Almajiri Educational programme designed for Muslim youth.<\/p>\n

  \u201cThere is need for the government to balance up developmental programmes in the region to avoid acrimony.\u201d<\/p>\n

   For months, the group has been conferring with several northern leaders with political and economic influence to come to their aid in ensuring fairness.<\/p>\n

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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: Guardian Newspaper<\/p>\n

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