The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has said competence and not age or region will determine who becomes the next president of Nigeria in 2023.
It said Nigerians have tested both the old and the young as well as Northern and Southern politicians, adding that citizens would want to look at any good and detribalised politicians who can fight insecurity, stop corruption, and take the country out of the woods.
CAN’s Vice Chairman (Northern region), Reverend Joseph John Hayab, said this in a statement sent to Naija News on Monday in Abuja.
In the statement titled, ‘Nigeria’s Next President not about Age or Region’, the apex Christian body said Nigerians must rise up to reject any politician with parochial interests as the race for the nation’s top job gather momentum ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Hayab said, “Nigerians today, simply need a leader that can deliver the goods, unite the nation and take us out of our economic woes and Insecurity challenges.
“Those coming out to talk about the age and region of our next President, are only out to start an agenda that will further divide us and put Nigeria in a more difficult situation.
“Our Association, therefore, wishes to warn the Nation against these unhealthy moves and also to appeal to Nigerians not to allow these short-sighted and selfish considerations to becloud our reasoning.
“We have elected leaders in the past because of some of these considerations, but only ends with regrets and lack of progress.
“Those who have been misleading us with these parochial views anytime elections are around the corners have started a new game which we must all resist and never give them space.
“How long should we allow our country to be dancing back and forth when looking for a genuine leader?
“Every citizen that truly loves this country knows that we have suffered too long and need to shine our eyes.
“The age of whoever will become Nigeria leader should never be an issue for debate because Nigerians must never allow anyone that does not have good leadership credentials and the capacity to be her leader just because he is young or old.
“But our concern should be for us all to look for a good and detribalize Nigerian who can fight insecurity, stop corruption, make the country to move forward.”
This article was originally published on Nigeria News