by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Religious leaders, from Chikun and Kajuru LGA of Kaduna State, Tuesday held what they termed as an “endorsement meeting” for Hon. Fidelis Joseph Bagudu, who is contesting House Representatives (HoR) by-election for Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party.
The meeting, held at Wusilli Hotel Conference Hall in Sabon Tasha area of Chikun LGA of the state, was attended by over 118 Christian and Muslim religious leaders’ representatives of the two LGAs..
Speaking to journalists at the venue of the meeting, Ibrahim Haruna (from Chikun LGA) said they were invited for the meeting by Hon. Bagudu to discuss Chikun/Kajuru Federal House Representatives contest.
Alh. Haruna explained that they heard that Chikun LGA has been occupying the position all alone for a very longtime without allowing Kajuru LGA to have a test of it, and are, therefore, in the meeting to advise for justice and fairness for Hon. Bagudu from Kajuru to be given the ticket to contest for the position in this coming HoR by-election.
Also, an organizer, who gave his name as “PA Bagudu,” said the religious leaders and their members were meeting to endorse Hon. Fidelis Joseph Bagudu as sole aspirant for House of Representatives Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election.
He said, “These are religious leaders from Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) Chikun and Kajuru chapters, with their members, and Jama’atu Nasirl Islam (JNI) Chikun and Kajuru chapter with their members.
“We also have Council of Chiefs and Imams and their members from Chikun and Kajuru LGAs. They are here to advocate for power shift to Kajuru and as well to endorse Hon. Fedelis Joseph Bagudu as a sole candidate for House of Representatives Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election,” he stated.
According to him, the meeting was also more of a composition of religious leaders’ support, who are agitating for APC ticket to be given to Hon. Bagudu because of humanitarian activities he has been doing across the two local governments.
“So, they feel it’s a payback time for them to show support for him,” he said, and appealed to the government to give Bagudu the necessary support to clinch the ticket.
Some of the religious leaders, who spoke to journalists on essence of their being there in the meeting, in an interview, expressed the need for fair-play between the two LGAs.
Ado Yusuf, Coordinator of the JNI Kasuan Magani ward, and Rev. Stephen Samson Ibrahim, CAN chairman Romi, amongst others, who also spoke to journalists in an interview, bared their minds on fairness and equality participation by candidates from Chikun and Kajuru LGAs.
The JNI Coordinator, Ado Yusuf, explained that they were in the meeting to rub minds and advocate the need for fair-play for Chikun LGA to allow Kajuru to have the coming HoR Member slot.
“And for Hon. Fidelis Bagudu, to do more good things he has been doing for the area when he win election and become leader of the Constituency in two LGAs,” he added.
Also, CAN Chairman Romi, Stephen Samson Ibrahim, said the essence of the meeting was to come together, discuss and pray as spiritual leaders with the contestant, join him in prayers so that God will help him, especially in area of fair-play in-between the aspirants from both LGAs.
Recalled that the former member representing the constituency, Hon. Ekene Adams Abubakar, died while in office, under Labour Party (LP), in 2024.