The National Coordinator of the Young Christian Democrats (YCD), Mr. Ezekiel Dinfa, has stated that only a Northern Christian president can effectively protect Northern Christians and other minority groups from Islamist extremism and terrorism.
Dinfa made the comment in response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Jos, where the President urged Plateau residents and Northern Christians to support his administration, citing his respect for religious freedom and the fact that his wife is a pastor.
Reacting, Dinfa said the President’s remarks were misplaced, adding that Southern Christians cannot fully comprehend the challenges faced by Christians in the North. “This is not the time for that kind of statement President Tinubu is making. Even Southern Christians do not fully understand what Northern Christians are going through — only a Northern Christian does,” he said.
He revealed that the group has already endorsed Dr. Joel Gbenga Hashim, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful, describing him as a bridge-builder with deep understanding of Nigeria’s security and economic realities.
“Dr. Hashim is a successful entrepreneur and one of the founding members of the PDP. He understands both national security and economic management,” Dinfa said.
He added that Dr. Hashim, who comes from a mixed Northern and Southern background, embodies the unity Nigeria needs. “Like our own son, General Yakubu Gowon, who reunited Nigeria after the civil war, Dr. Hashim has the capacity to manage Nigeria’s diversity. Most of the current aspirants do not even understand the country,” he said.
Dinfa further described Dr. Hashim as “a fair-minded democrat who will also protect Muslims because, like many Northern Christians, he has Muslim roots.”
