10/08/2026
NCYP REJECTS “ARNA” LABEL FOR CHRISTIANS, WARNS AGAINST DIVISIVE RHETORIC THAT COULD REOPEN OLD WOUNDS AND FUEL INSECURITY
Abuja, Nigeria | August 10, 2026
The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has expressed deep concern over recent statements attributed to Mallam Sheikh Yahaya Jingir regarding the Muslim-Muslim ticket and, particularly, the description of Christians as “Arna,” a Hausa term commonly used to mean an infidel or unbeliever.
NCYP considers such language deeply unfortunate and in bad taste, particularly coming from a prominent religious leader in a country as religiously diverse as Nigeria.
The description is not only an inaccurate representation of who Christians are, but also denigrates the Christian faith itself. Christians are faithful believers in Jesus Christ, whom we worship as the Son of the Almighty God. We are not “infidels” or people without faith, and no responsible religious discourse should seek to diminish the faith and identity of millions of fellow Nigerians in such terms.
Given Sheikh Jingir’s age, experience and standing as a religious leader, NCYP believes he should understand the weight and possible consequences of such language. We would therefore expect greater restraint, wisdom and responsibility in the choice of words, unless, of course, such rhetoric is deliberately intended to provoke division and mischief — an outcome no peace-loving Nigerian should encourage.
More importantly, we are concerned about the consequences of allowing such divisive religious rhetoric to go unchecked. Northern Nigeria has experienced devastating religious crises in the past, and history has shown that inflammatory statements, religious suspicion, bitterness and the demonisation of people of another faith can create an atmosphere that extremist and criminal elements may subsequently exploit to manipulate vulnerable citizens, deepen radicalisation, recruit followers and fuel violence.
This is why NCYP is sounding the alarm now — before another crisis occurs.
As a Christian professional body with deep roots in Northern Nigeria, NCYP understands the importance of protecting the fragile bonds of peaceful coexistence being rebuilt between Christians and Muslims across the region. Communities that have suffered years of violence are beginning to rebuild trust and relationships.
That progress must not be ripped apart by rhetoric that portrays fellow citizens as religious outsiders or enemies.
NCYP therefore calls on well-meaning Nigerians, particularly peace-loving Muslims, Islamic scholars and responsible religious leaders, to condemn rhetoric capable of inflaming religious sentiments and undermining the peace being painstakingly rebuilt across Northern Nigeria.
We equally call on the appropriate authorities to ensure that public figures whose utterances have the potential to inflame religious tensions are called to order within the bounds of the law, so as to forestall a recurrence of the religious crises and communal tensions that have contributed to the insecurity confronting our nation.
On the Tinubu-Shettima Ticket
NCYP also rejects the attempt to portray the Tinubu-Shettima ticket as a religious project or to justify its political legitimacy through claims about whether Muslims or Christians constitute the larger population of Nigeria.
NCYP is not speaking from the sidelines on this matter. We supported and campaigned for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2023 presidential election. Our support was based on political considerations, leadership, policy direction and our assessment of the national interest — not because we regarded the ticket as a Christian or Muslim project.
The decision by the APC to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket was a political strategy aimed at winning an election, and Nigerians were given the opportunity to accept or reject that strategy through the democratic process. The ticket subsequently secured the mandate of the electorate.
It is therefore wrong to continually repackage the ticket as a religious agenda or use it to reopen old religious divisions. The Tinubu-Shettima ticket should be judged by its governance and performance, not through the prism of religious arithmetic.
On the question of population, NCYP believes that the numerical strength of Muslims and Christians should not be turned into a tool for religious mobilisation or political bitterness. Only a credible national census can authoritatively establish Nigeria’s population composition. We should therefore await the next census rather than engage in competing religious claims about numbers.
What should matter to Nigerians is not which faith has more followers, but whether the government protects the lives, rights and dignity of every Nigerian, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
The insecurity that has ravaged large parts of Northern Nigeria has already caused enormous loss of lives, displacement, destruction of livelihoods and economic hardship. Its consequences are increasingly being felt beyond the region.
Nigeria cannot afford another cycle of religious suspicion, bitterness and crisis.
NCYP believes that the fight against insecurity is not only a military battle; it is also a battle for the hearts and minds of Nigerians. We cannot defeat terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes while allowing the religious and social divisions that extremists and criminal elements can exploit to grow unchecked.
The North has suffered enough.
We therefore urge Muslim and Christian leaders, political leaders, traditional rulers and all peace-loving Nigerians to reject inflammatory rhetoric and strengthen the bonds of peaceful coexistence that have held our communities together for generations.
We must confront divisive rhetoric today before it becomes tomorrow’s crisis. The peace we are rebuilding must not be allowed to be ripped apart.
Signed,
Isaac Abrak
National Chairman
Senator Uba Sani Jerry Adams @
