By Adeleye Kunle
Northern Christians in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have said they will no longer campaign for the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, due to his choice of a Muslim running mate.
They stated this position in a press release on Tuesday, following an emergency meeting of the group in Abuja where the issue of the religious coloring of the APC’s presidential ticket and its implications for the nation was discussed.
According to a joint communiqué signed by Prof. Doknan Sheni (Chairman) and General Ishaya Bauka (Secretary), the group explained that Tinubu’s choice of a Muslim running mate had enraged Christians in the North, portraying the APC as insensitive to their aspirations.
It warned that if Senator Kashim Shettima’s selection as the party’s vice presidential resident candidate is not reversed by July 15, serious and grave consequences will follow.
“The Christian politicians in the nineteen (19) Northern States within the APC met in Abuja to deliberate on the issue of the party’s Muslim – Muslim president and vice president candidates and the implications for the nation,” according to the communiqué.
“The meeting decided that as Christians within the APC, we cannot, in all fairness to our consciences and faith, campaign for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in our various constituencies.”
“Nigeria is NOT a theocracy; it is a multi-religious, constitutional democracy.” The current political climate in the country differs from what occurred in 1993, and thus a Moslem-Moslem ticket is unacceptable.
“The choice of a Muslim vice presidential candidate demonstrated insensitivity to the nation’s Christians.”
“The fear of Christians in the north and the country as a whole is that the APC party will be perceived as an Islamic party, and that if a Muslim-Muslim ticket was not possible in 2015, why should it be possible in 2023?”
“More so, we are concerned that the person chosen may have been involved in the Chibok girls’ saga and other terror activities.”
“A Muslim-Muslim ticket would jeopardize the election chances of Christian candidates in the APC in the various northern states.”
“The Christians in the north and throughout the country are extremely irritated, given that the party’s chairman is a Muslim, the deputy chairman (North) is a Muslim, the president of the Senate is a Muslim, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives are Muslims, and now both the presidential and vice presidential candidates are Muslims.”
“Aside from violating the constitution’s section 14 subsection 3, if all of these were Christians, can any Muslim in the North sell APC presidential tickets to any Muslim Ummah?”
“There will be serious and grave consequences if the selection of a Muslim Vice President candidate is not changed.”
“At this time of national peril, Nigeria’s priority should be unity, not infrastructure or economy.” We cannot build without unity.
“Any party or candidate who prioritizes the greed of a few over the needs of the many has no business running Nigeria’s affairs.”
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