In a significant act of interfaith solidarity ahead of the 2025 Christmas celebrations, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, representing Zamfara West, has extended substantial support to Christian communities across the state. The donation, comprising essential foodstuffs, livestock, and cash, underscores a tradition of seasonal philanthropy while highlighting the complex socio-political landscape of Northern Nigeria.
The distribution, formally presented in Gusau on Friday, December 19, 2025, included 310 bags of 50kg rice, 16 live cows, and a cash sum of ₦1 million. Senator Yari, represented by his aide Alhaji Sani Garba, framed the gesture as part of an annual commitment to ensure Christians can celebrate Christmas and the New Year with joy and abundance. This practice, while charitable, also serves as a notable example of political outreach in a region where religious identity is deeply intertwined with community relations and governance.
Garba emphasized the critical need for transparency, fairness, and justice in the distribution process—a point of particular resonance in Zamfara, a state that has grappled with security challenges and resource allocation issues. The call for equitable distribution is not merely procedural; it is a foundational element for maintaining trust and social cohesion in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.
The beneficiaries were carefully delineated, reflecting the organized structures within the Christian community and its intersection with political affiliations:
- The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Zamfara Chapter: Received the largest share—200 bags of rice, 10 cows, and the ₦1 million cash.
- APC Igbo Wing & Yoruba Wing: Received 20 bags of rice and one cow, and 10 bags of rice and one cow, respectively.
- Igbo and Yoruba Communities: Received 50 bags of rice and two cows, and 30 bags of rice and two cows, respectively.
This breakdown reveals a strategic acknowledgment of both religious and ethnic demographics within the Christian minority. The inclusion of the APC’s ethnic wings points to the layered identities of voters—where faith, ethnicity, and political loyalty intersect. Such donations, common in Nigerian political culture, often serve dual purposes: fulfilling a social welfare function while cementing patron-client relationships and fostering broad-based political support.
In his remarks, Garba extended a call beyond the material donation, urging Christians to use the festive period to pray for the restoration of peace, security, and development in Zamfara and Nigeria. This appeal connects the celebratory act to the state’s pressing realities, where banditry and communal violence have disrupted lives and livelihoods. It frames the donation not just as charity, but as an investment in a collective plea for divine intervention in secular crises.
Responding on behalf of all beneficiaries, CAN Chairman Afolabi Azeez expressed profound gratitude and offered assurances that the items would be distributed fairly to Christian faithful across the state’s fourteen local government areas. He echoed the call for continued prayers for peace, highlighting the shared desire for stability that transcends religious lines.
Deeper Context and Analysis:
While seasonal donations from politicians to religious groups are a familiar feature of Nigerian holidays, this event carries specific significance. Zamfara, the first Nigerian state to adopt full Sharia law in 1999, has a history where such overt interfaith support from a prominent Muslim political figure can be a powerful symbol of unity. It counters narratives of exclusivity and demonstrates a model of inclusive governance. However, analysts note that the sustainability and impact of such gestures depend on their consistency beyond festive periods and their coupling with tangible policies that address the root causes of poverty and insecurity affecting all citizens, regardless of faith.
Ultimately, Senator Yari’s Yuletide donation is a multifaceted event: a humanitarian act, a political statement, and a social ritual. It provides immediate festive relief while inviting reflection on the ongoing journey toward lasting interfaith harmony and comprehensive security in Northwestern Nigeria.
IAG/YMU
Edited by Yakubu Uba
