2023: Christian group APC rejects Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, says decision insensitive
Some Christian political leaders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected the party's decision to field Kashim Shettima as running mate, Bola Tinubu.
Misters Tinubu and Shettima are Muslims - a combination that has sparked various reactions since the former announced that the latter was his running mate in Katsina on Sunday.
The APC's Christian leaders described the move as a show of gross insensitivity to the complexity of modern Nigeria and the entire Church.
They said it was also a betrayal of supporters of unity and peaceful coexistence with Muslims, including notable imams who had "warned the party and the candidate to take this dangerous road."
This was contained in a statement issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja on Tuesday and signed by Doknan Sheni, a professor.
At the end of the meeting which was intended to discuss the implications of the Muslim/Muslim ticket on the nation, the leaders said they could not return to their various constituencies to campaign for a Muslim/Muslim ticket.< /p>
Nigeria, they noted, is a multi-religious, constitutional democracy and not a theocracy with religion as a major national fault line that cannot be manipulated without disastrous political consequences on peaceful co-existence as a people.
They also said that the current Nigerian political environment and atmosphere was different from that of 1993 when Moshood Abiola and Babangana Kingibe, both Muslims, were vying for the posts of President and Vice President and recalled that "there has never been a President Abiola or a Vice-President Kingibe".
“The selection of a Muslim running mate is a display of gross insensitivity to the complexity of modern Nigeria and the entire Church. It is also a betrayal of the advocates of unity and peaceful coexistence with our Muslim brothers, including notable imams who had banned the Party and the candidate from following this dangerous route,” the statement read.
Other issues raisedAccording to the statement, the APC has always been suspected by the Church of pursuing an Islamization agenda, and a Muslim/Muslim candidacy would require an ingenious lie to prove otherwise.
Leaders accused the party of throwing its Christian candidates across the country, under the bus.
READ ALSO: Nigerians should be more concerned about PDP's decision to scrap zoning than Muslim-Muslim ticket - Ex-APC SpokespersonInvoking that the President, National President, Northern Vice President, Senate President, President and Vice President, and now Presidential Candidate and Vice Presidential Candidate, are all Muslims, leaders questioned whether Muslims would accept the arrangement if the cases were reversed.
The Tinubu-Shettima ticket, they said, violated a section of the APC constitution which states that it will "guarantee equal opportunity for all respect and understanding for mutual and peaceful coexistence , eliminating all forms of discrimination and social injustice among Nigerians."
They therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to step in and ensure justice, fairness and fair play for the sake of the nation's peace and stability and save the party from disintegration.
“We are discouraged that someone who wants to be a leader for all sections of the country would use religious exclusivism as a tool to win an election. This will certainly lead to a massive revolt against the party. inclusiveness, justice and equity.”
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
Some Christian political leaders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected the party's decision to field Kashim Shettima as running mate, Bola Tinubu.
Misters Tinubu and Shettima are Muslims - a combination that has sparked various reactions since the former announced that the latter was his running mate in Katsina on Sunday.
The APC's Christian leaders described the move as a show of gross insensitivity to the complexity of modern Nigeria and the entire Church.
They said it was also a betrayal of supporters of unity and peaceful coexistence with Muslims, including notable imams who had "warned the party and the candidate to take this dangerous road."
This was contained in a statement issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja on Tuesday and signed by Doknan Sheni, a professor.
At the end of the meeting which was intended to discuss the implications of the Muslim/Muslim ticket on the nation, the leaders said they could not return to their various constituencies to campaign for a Muslim/Muslim ticket.< /p>
Nigeria, they noted, is a multi-religious, constitutional democracy and not a theocracy with religion as a major national fault line that cannot be manipulated without disastrous political consequences on peaceful co-existence as a people.
They also said that the current Nigerian political environment and atmosphere was different from that of 1993 when Moshood Abiola and Babangana Kingibe, both Muslims, were vying for the posts of President and Vice President and recalled that "there has never been a President Abiola or a Vice-President Kingibe".
“The selection of a Muslim running mate is a display of gross insensitivity to the complexity of modern Nigeria and the entire Church. It is also a betrayal of the advocates of unity and peaceful coexistence with our Muslim brothers, including notable imams who had banned the Party and the candidate from following this dangerous route,” the statement read.
Other issues raisedAccording to the statement, the APC has always been suspected by the Church of pursuing an Islamization agenda, and a Muslim/Muslim candidacy would require an ingenious lie to prove otherwise.
Leaders accused the party of throwing its Christian candidates across the country, under the bus.
READ ALSO: Nigerians should be more concerned about PDP's decision to scrap zoning than Muslim-Muslim ticket - Ex-APC SpokespersonInvoking that the President, National President, Northern Vice President, Senate President, President and Vice President, and now Presidential Candidate and Vice Presidential Candidate, are all Muslims, leaders questioned whether Muslims would accept the arrangement if the cases were reversed.
The Tinubu-Shettima ticket, they said, violated a section of the APC constitution which states that it will "guarantee equal opportunity for all respect and understanding for mutual and peaceful coexistence , eliminating all forms of discrimination and social injustice among Nigerians."
They therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to step in and ensure justice, fairness and fair play for the sake of the nation's peace and stability and save the party from disintegration.
“We are discouraged that someone who wants to be a leader for all sections of the country would use religious exclusivism as a tool to win an election. This will certainly lead to a massive revolt against the party. inclusiveness, justice and equity.”
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
What's Your Reaction?
