As the All Progressives Congress (APC) battles to choose a running mate for its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, northern Christians have warned against fielding same religion ticket for the president and his running mate.
Recall that Bola Tinubu who is a Muslim from the southwest won the party’s presidential primary.
He is therefore expected to choose a Christian running mate from the north so that no faith feels marginalised in the corridors of Nigeria’s political power.
While there are rumours that Tinubu is likely to settle for a northern Muslim as his deputy, northern Christians and pastors under the aegis of Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA), has kicked against the imposition of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
The group said in a statement issued on Tuesday by its chairman, Rev. Shehu Luke that it was aware of some religious bigots or those sympathetic to radical Islam to hijack Nigeria into a full-fledged Muslim-control, with a sham democracy.
It also stated that it was aware of the plan for a Muslim-Muslim ticket or an alternative “use” of Christian running mate to be vice president to assuage the Christians while promoting Islamic agenda.
“ACIPA have observed with sadness the hijack of Nigeria’s political process and perhaps our future by a few money bag politicians with the tacit conspiracy of some of our legislatures and the presidency.
“While the recently concluded primary elections of the major political parties have a public semblance of transparency, it is obvious that there was a covert inducement of delegates through well-orchestrated machinery which influenced the emergence of party flag bearers at the governorship and presidential primaries.
“In short, the rights of over two hundred million Nigerians to choose their candidates were denied through an indirect election preferred by those who desire to perpetually control Nigeria. The selection or election process was between money bag aspirants, desperate old re-circulating politicians, and a few delegate merchants thus denying the majority of Nigerians their true choices,” it said.
Furthermore, ACIPA said: “Notwithstanding the inherent weakness in the process of the election of the parties’ flag bearers we are aware of the intent of religious bigots or those sympathetic to radical Islam to hijack Nigeria into a full-fledged Muslim-control, with a sham democracy.
“We are aware of the plan for a Muslim-Muslim ticket or an alternative “use” of Christian running mate to be Vice President to assuage the Christians while promoting Islamic agenda. This was evident in how the office of the present vice president was reduced to a mere errand position. We knew “they” will never allow him to win the primary after he was used. This is unacceptable to ACIPA, our networking partners, and indeed all Christians in the next dispensation.”
The group also said any political party or candidate that neglects Arewa (northern) Christians shall do so at their peril.
“ACIPA shall be consulting widely in the days ahead for a definite decision on who to endorse as the president of Nigeria in the 2023 elections.
“In conclusion, ACIPA strongly advises Christian leaders never to compromise our democracy to those sympathetic to radical Islamist and religious bigots, yet they pretend to be lovers of humanity, peace, democracy, and unity while in truth they believe in the supremacy of their religious doctrine above others.
“Also, we wish to draw the attention of Nigerians to the fact that, from our intelligence, there are candidates who are sympathetic to the promotion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender idea. In view of our Christian and moral values, this also is unacceptable to ACIPA as it is to the majority of Nigerians. Therefore, ACIPA shall not support any candidate who covertly or overtly supports LGBT,” it added.
Meanwhile, member of the APC’s Election management committee at the recently-concluded special national convention, Mr. Abubakar Girei, those propagating the Muslim-Muslim ticket as running mate to Tinubu in the party were propagandists for their selfish interests.
He contended that the same-faith ticket is an issue championed by propagandists for selfish political interest, apparently by those who are neither good Muslims nor Christians.
“Politics, however, is all about winning strategy, so in my opinion, whatever strategy can be implored to win elections, that is within the confine of the constitution, to me, it is okay,” Girei said.
