Presidency must come south, ignore religion, insists Akeredolu

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The dust has yet to settle on controversies following the same All Progressives Congress (APC) religious ticket to power ahead of the 2023 general election, as Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), pleaded with Christians to look beyond religion and focus on the competence of the presidential candidate.

APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had chosen former Borno state governor Kashim Shettima as his running mate. His decision to stand alongside a Muslim like him was strongly criticized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), led by Bishop Francis Wale Oke.

Speaking on Sunday evening at the 40th Oke Spirit Sword Ministries Holy Spirit Convention Dinner held at the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, Akeredolu said, like millions of Christians in the country, he is also worried about Muslims. His party's Muslim presidential ticket.

"I discussed with Bishop Oke that the presidency must come to the South. Take it or leave it, it's the minimum we can have. It must come to the South. The North cannot produce the president for eight years and still wants to keep it for another eight years. It won't work.

"That's why at the Southern Governors Forum, where thankfully God made me president, I kept insisting on this. He has to come to the South. And when he also happened to our party in the APC, we fought for him to come to the South.

"Fortunately, he didn't just come to the South, he came to the South West. Now where are we? I understand our feelings because I'm one of you. I am a Christian. We are all here worried. What will be our gain, and why is my party, the APC, launching a Muslim/Muslim ticket?'” he said, according to a statement from the secretary. Governor's Chief Press Officer, Richard Olatunde.

Akeredolu said the fight for Nigeria's president to come from the south of the country in 2023 should not be in vain.

“It was a real problem for all of us. Even the party members, it was a problem for us. to the people, my fight is for the President of the South,” he said.

The governor pleaded with Christians to look beyond religion and focus on the jurisdiction of Tinubu and Shettima.

"Now that he's arrived in the South West, am I now going to throw the baby out with the bathwater? Can I, in all honesty, do that? Shall I, in all honesty, do?

“We call it a matter of coincidence. It's a matter of conscience. We're all here, why not look at it from one angle? capable hand that can handle business if given the chance? Do you have a man bold enough to challenge an incursion into our country? That's all.

"All of us here have been living together for years and we have not allowed religion to fight between us. We have Muslims in our families and there is no fighting. We have many leaders in Yoruba land who have both Muslims and Christians in their families and there is no fighting.

“So we want to appeal to our people that this is our time. I want to appeal to all of our senior pastors and general overseers to help speak to their followers. thing. It's our time, please don't get angry."

CAN PRESIDENT, Archbishop Daniel Okoh has urged Nigerians, especially Christians, not to sit on the fence in the 2023 general elections as they have in previous election cycles.< /p>

Speaking at the opening of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Sacred Heart Pastoral Center, Orlu, Imo State, yesterday, Okoh described the general elections of 2023 as a valid opportunity that Nigerians have to permanently reverse the fortunes of the country, hence the need for the active participation of all eligible Nigerians to ensure that credible individuals are elected to political office to manage the affairs of the country. country.

Okoh called on participating bishops and other senior Catholic Church officials to continue supporting the election observation team set up by the CAN to do a good job during the general elections.

"I also ask you to continue to use your highly revered positions to remind your parishioners and indeed all Christians in Nigeria of the danger of not actively participating in partisan politics, for that is where all decisions that affect our lives, the choice of worship and the economy are decided."

Okay, according to the staff...