Minna, Niger State — Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, a practising Muslim, took to the stage at a major Christian gospel concert in Minna on Friday and joined worshippers in singing praise and worship songs, including the popular chorus declaring “I’m a new creation, I’m born again.”
The moment, captured on video and widely shared on social media, occurred during the eighth edition of SHOUT, an annual Christian gospel music concert organised by House On The Rock Minna at the Trade Fair Complex. Bago attended the event alongside Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba and other members of the State Executive Council.
In the viral footage, the governor sang three songs with the congregation: “I’m a New Creation,” “May the Spirit of the Lord Come Down,” and the classic hymn “Hold the Fort.” Leading the refrain of the first song, he declared: “I’m a new creation, I’m born again. All things have passed away. I’m born again. That’s who I am. I’m a new creation. I’m a brand new man.”
Addressing the gathering, Bago described the occasion as a time for celebration. “You know the season is a season we must rejoice. It’s a season we should be happy because this is the day my Lord has made for me today,” he told the crowd.
The concert was convened by Pastor Peterock Sadiq and featured guest ministers, including Apostle Joshua Selman.
House On The Rock Minna noted in a Facebook post that the governor’s appearance continued a longstanding relationship with the Christian community. According to the church, Bago has supported Christian gatherings and attended the SHOUT concert for four years, missing only the seventh edition. The church described his presence as a demonstration of ongoing support rather than a political campaign stop.
This is not the first time the governor has used Christian platforms to promote interfaith harmony. At earlier editions of the concert, he urged residents of Niger State to live in unity regardless of religious differences and called on both Christian and Muslim clerics to preach peace rather than division. He has previously spoken about attending a missionary school without it altering his Islamic faith, emphasising that religion should never be forced on anyone.
Bago, popularly known as the “Farmer Governor” for his administration’s focus on agriculture, was elected in March 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and assumed office on May 29, 2023. Born in Minna in 1974 into a devout Muslim family, he previously represented Chanchaga Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Niger State has a predominantly Muslim population with a significant Christian minority. In a country where religious coexistence remains a sensitive national issue, the image of a northern Muslim governor enthusiastically joining Christian worshippers in praise songs has drawn both praise for promoting tolerance and debate online.
Supporters view the gesture as a powerful signal of inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence. Critics have questioned the sincerity of a Muslim leader singing explicitly Christian lyrics about being “born again.” The governor and the organising church have framed the appearance as consistent with his record of supporting the Christian community and advocating religious harmony in the state.
The video continues to circulate widely, keeping the conversation about leadership, faith, and national unity in the spotlight.
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