Osun 2018: Group Want Christian Governor to Succeed Aregbesola

By Jide Afolabi

The Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria, Osun state Chapter has called on political parties in the state to consider fielding a Christian as their governorship candidate.

The group made the call in a statement signed by its state Coordinator, Okanlawon Owolabi on Saturday in Osogbo, Osun state capital.

The group said that since creation of the state, only former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola was elected governor of the state as a Christian, out of the four elected governors that have governed the state.

He said that the current government of Ogbeni Rauf Aragebesola have both the executive and legislative arms being led by Muslims.

Owolabi said, “Ordinarily, we expected all political parties especially, major parties to field a Christian Governorship candidate in the state for the September 22, 2018 governorship election”.

“We are however surprised that major parties like All Progressives Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, are not considering a Christian as their candidate”.

For instance, the “West L’okan agitation within the ruling APC has dropped Christians from Osun West Senatorial zone to the background as if there are no capable and qualified Christians within the zone”.

“It’s is our hope that the political parties contesting the election will be just and fair by fielding Christian governorship candidate” .

Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria is a faith based non-governmental organisation aimed at creating political awareness and raising consciousness of Christians in Nigeria on political matters and leadership.

The group has presence in over 20 states in the country and currently carrying out voters education and enlightenment programmes for Christians.