Senate President Godswill Akpabio has described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as the most Christian-friendly government since the creation of Nigeria, citing the President’s commitment to fairness across religious lines.
Akpabio made the remark on Tuesday in Jos during a reception rally held at the Jos Polo Ground to formally receive Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, the Senate President said Tinubu has demonstrated religious balance through both words and actions.
“Let me place on record that the Bola Tinubu-led administration is the most Christian-friendly administration since the creation of Nigeria. He has shown this through his actions and deeds. He treats both Christians and Muslims equally,” Akpabio was quoted as saying.
Congratulating Governor Mutfwang on his defection, Akpabio said the move had repositioned Plateau State within Nigeria’s political landscape.
“Mr. Governor, I congratulate you on this action of taking the people of Plateau to the centre of national politics. Let me assure you that insecurity will soon come to an end in Plateau,” he said.
He assured residents of the state of federal support, stressing that the government would not abandon Plateau.
“We will support your government in all sectors in order to better the lives of your people. We will not leave you alone,” he added.
Akpabio also noted that Mutfwang’s entry into the APC had completed the party’s dominance of the North Central geo-political zone.
“Today’s action has finally brought all the states in the north-central geo-political zone into the party, and this is significant,” he said.
He further pledged that the federal government would continue to protect Nigerians regardless of religious belief, adding that the National Assembly would support Tinubu through funding approvals aimed at shutting down Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the country.
“Government will do everything within its powers to protect Nigerians no matter their religious inclination and belief. We will support President Tinubu through the approval of funds in order to shut down all IDP camps in the country,” Akpabio said.
In his response, Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the defection as a historic moment for Plateau State and its people.
“Today’s movement is a landmark. It is a statement that the people of Plateau have made, and they are here in their thousands to publicly declare their support for the APC and to return President Tinubu to office in 2027,” he said.
Mutfwang added that the decision marked the beginning of a new journey for the state.
“We are beginning a journey that our forefathers had long envisioned, uniting us for peace and development,” the governor stated.
On January 2, Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the APC, officially announced Mutfwang’s entry into the party. Shortly after, Simon Lalong, senator representing Plateau South and former governor of the state, informed party members that his leadership of the APC in Plateau had ended following Mutfwang’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
