Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode at the weekend described Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State as a ‘God-sent leader’ raised by divine intervention to heal the state from years of division, bloodshed, and discrimination.
Fani-Kayode stated this at the 35th Anniversary Synod of the Diocese of Kafanchan, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), where he said Governor Sani’s emergence marked the beginning of a new era of peace and inclusion in Kaduna, especially for Christians.
According to him, Christians in the State, before the coming of Governor Sani had suffered unbearable persecution in the past.
“The Governor that you have today came as a consequence of prayer. I have known him for many years; he is one of my closest friends. He is not an ordinary person,” he said.
The former Minister recalled that there was a period when the 17 security chiefs in Nigeria were all Muslims from the North, while Christians, particularly in Kaduna, were subjected to open discrimination.
He said under previous leadership, Christians were treated with “contempt and disdain.”
The former Minister explained that Christmas Day of 2016 remains unforgettable for him due to the mass killing of over 800 Christians in four local government areas of Southern Kaduna.
“That tragedy touched me deeply. I wrote about it, spoke out across the country and paid a price for it, but that doesn’t matter.
“Defenseless men, women, and children were slaughtered as a Christmas Day present. The hospitals were shut, and nobody from Government House listened,” he noted.
Fani-Kayode said Christian traditional rulers were also targeted and killed, while their subjects were “treated like filth,” an injustice that galvanized believers to resist oppression and reaffirm their faith.
The former Minister stressed that Christianity does not make anyone a second-class citizen, adding that Christians prayed for divine intervention rather than resorting to violence.
“God answered their prayers and raised a humane governor in the person of Senator Uba Sani. Even his so-called backers underestimated him and thought they could manipulate him,” he added.
Fani-Kayode said that one of Governor Uba Sani’s first actions was to promote religious unity and inclusion, citing the establishment of the Kaduna Elders Forum which, for the first time, included Christian leaders.
“Kaduna today belongs to both Christians and Muslims. The Governor has bridged the gap between the two faiths,” he said.
He observed that killings in Southern Kaduna have ceased since Uba Sani assumed office, commending the governor for restoring peace and mutual respect.
“This is a Governor who entered a church, removed his cap out of respect for God and our faith. That gesture touched me deeply,” Fani-Kayode added.
The former minister urged both Christians and Muslims to strengthen their bonds of peace and forgiveness, advising victims of religious violence to adopt children from other faiths, in the spirit of reconciliation.
“If you lost a child during the time of terror, adopt one from another faith. Whether Christian or Muslim, we are all children of God,” he said.
Fani-Kayode recalled that a former Kaduna Governor once admitted paying terrorists not to attack the state, which, he said, implied that such payments had previously been made to encourage attacks.
The former Minister therefore, lauded the people of Southern Kaduna for their resilience, patience and faith in God, describing them as extraordinary and urging them to continue to uphold peace and unity.
