Those campaigning with religion dubious -Akeredolu

Ondo Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has described those campaigning with religion for the 2023 election as fraudulent, saying they should be ignored.

He spoke at the 16th Jesus Festival Dinner of the Ibadan Anglican Diocese at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Agodi, Ibadan. He was the chairman of the occasion.

Akeredolu argued the antecedents of prominent candidates in the forthcoming presidential election should be the yardstick for measuring their capacity to lead the country.

He charged Nigerians to keep the debate on equity and justice alive for peace to reign in the country. He also stressed that the South must produce the next president in the spirit of equity and fairness.

Akeredolu, who noted that competence and integrity should be the criteria for recruiting leaders, stressed that the recent debate on representation on account of faith is most unnecessary.

He said: “The recent debate on representation on account of faith is most unnecessary. Competence and integrity should be the criteria for representation.

“All those who do not wish to be ruled by persons of dubious character should endeavour to be active in the days ahead. Let all those with their PVCs vote for candidates of their choice. All candidates should be put to the strictest proof of their claims.

“Anyone who exhibits any shred of doubt should be rejected roundly. The antecedents of prominent candidates in the forthcoming presidential elections, and even ALL elections, should be evidence of capacity. The manifesto belongs, largely, to the party.

“We must do more than criticism in the next elections or be ready to be ruled by those with no enviable pedigree. We must participate or be damned.

“We must tell all self-appointed spokespersons of the Christian faith to leave partisan politics for the practitioners and concentrate on the works for which they are called or appointed.”