The Southern Nigeria Christian Vanguard on Tuesday called on the National Assembly to consider national unity in their choice of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The call was made in a statement issued by the Christian Vanguard on Tuesday in Enugu, in which the Christian leaders called on Nigerians to pray for the country.

Signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Archbishop of Aba Ecclesiastical Province, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Isaac Nwaobia and Bishop Joseph Ajujungwa, the group said the appeal was made in the interest of the country's unity, considering that the ‘President-elect’, Bola Tinubu and ‘Vice President-elect’, Kashim Shettima are Muslims.

The group said in the spirit of fairness, the two leadership positions in the National Assembly – Senate Presidency and Speakership – should be given to Christians to create an atmosphere of unity.

“We condemn in its totality any group or persons pushing the agenda that the number one, number two, number three and the number four citizens of Nigeria should come from the same faith.

“The Southern Nigeria Christian Vanguard sees this as undermining the resilience of the Christians in Nigeria. We encourage the APC-led Federal Government to shun anyone bringing up this idea as it will lend credence and validate the suspicion of the Islamisation of Nigeria.

“The Nigerian Christians are still trying to swallow the Muslim-Muslim ticket shoved down our throat by APC; another similar act will not be accepted.

“We totally support the candidacy of a Christian becoming the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Reps.

“We encourage all Christians that are qualified for the positions of Senate President and Speaker to aspire for these positions.

“Once again, we believe Nigeria will be great again. We look forward to a better and prosperous Nigeria,” the statement partly read.

The group also advised Nigerians to pray for the country, while appealing to the judiciary to be fair, honest and credible in handling the various election petitions before it.

“Let them be reminded that the judiciary is still the hope of the common man.

“Nigerians and the whole world are expecting them to show a high level of integrity, fairness and honesty in the handling of these petitions.

“They should shun inducement, bribery and any act of wickedness in the delivery of their judgements,” they further stated.