Gwoza Elites Forum Decries Neglect of Christian IDPs in Borno

Our correspondent

A Christian advocacy group under the aegis of the Gwoza Elite Forum has expressed displeasure over what it termed as the “deliberate neglect” of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are mostly Christians in Borno State.

The President of the forum, Emmanuel Ibrahim, made their position known during the just concluded 3rd Gwoza Christian National Conference held in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Mr Ibrahim, who praised Governor Babagana Zulum’s policy on returning IDPs and refugees, however, criticised the exemption of over 5,400 Gwoza Christian IDPs from Shuwari and Wulari camps in Maiduguri metropolis.

He also raised alarm over the complete absence of Christian Councillors in the 13 wards predominantly occupied by Christians in Gwoza Local Government Area, describing it as “religious sidelining.”

The Gwoza Elite Forum president tasked political leaders to appoint reasonable percentage of Christians as legislative aides and Special Assistants, and to ensure they benefit from so as to enable the people benefit from the various empowerment programmes of the government.

Said he, “We recognise His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Zulum, for his laudable policy of relocating, reintegrating, and repatriating IDPs… However, to the disillusionment of this forum, the state officials had exempted over 5,400 Gwoza Christian IDPs.

“In Gwoza, there have been concerns about the treatment of our people who sought refuge in the Republic of Cameroon. Gwoza refugees were offered only N500,000 with some food items without an apartment for a household, but in Bama and Banki, refugees were assigned 2 bedrooms with some food items.”

The forum also condemned what it called the “scheming by ruling party stakeholders to deny Christian’s chairmanship and councillorship positions in Christian-dominated wards.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. John Bakeni, urged Christians to actively participate in politics, rejecting the notion that politics is a “dirty game.”

The Borno State CAN Chairman said, “The issue of Christian participation in politics has been an issue of great concern for us in the state. Politics is not a dirty game; rather, it is a system of governance. Christians are not participating in politics as they should, and for me, I have always encouraged that they should get involved and be part of it.”

The conference highlighted ongoing concerns about marginalisation and the need for equitable treatment of Christian communities in Borno State.

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