The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) northern chapter, Rev. Yakubu Pam, has observed a positive shift in the experiences of Christians in northern Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Pam noted a decline in Christian persecution since Tinubu took office in 2023, marking a notable contrast from previous years.
His remarks follow his recent commendation of the administration for fostering inclusive governance.
During an appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on the 29th of January, 2025, Pam admitted that while persecution has not been eradicated, it has significantly decreased.
He pointed to tangible improvements, such as a reduction in the discrimination faced by Christians when purchasing land for church buildings and fewer incidents of forced conversions and marriages of young Christian girls.
“There’s still persecution of Christians going on. It is relatively better under this administration, but it is still ongoing. I’m not saying it has stopped, but it’s much better,” he stated.
Pam reiterated these concerns at a press conference in Kaduna, where he revisited challenges such as land restrictions for church construction and cases of forced marriages and conversions.
Despite his initial skepticism about Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, the CAN chairman now acknowledges the president’s efforts in promoting “reasonable inclusiveness” within governance.
Following a meeting of the Northern CAN National Executive Committee (NEC) on the 25th of January, Pam emphasized the importance of fair representation in government.
“For me, the most important thing is an inclusive government. Even with the Muslim-Muslim ticket, we have seen reasonable inclusiveness,” he said.
However, he maintained that Northern Christians would like to be strongly considered for the vice-presidential position in 2027 if Tinubu opts to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima.