Yakubu Dogara, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, has criticised Bola Tinubu‘s and the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) decision to run a Muslim/Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election. He claims that the conduct imperils the nation’s cohesiveness.
Speaking at the 12th General Assembly and Leadership Transition Ceremony of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr Dogara emphasised that political alterations that do not take into account the religious balance in the nation are detrimental to the stability and unity of the nation.
He praised CAN’s stance on the issue and called it “Godly.”
[quotation name=’Yakubu Dogara’]I want to say emphatically that CAN’s position on Muslim/Muslim ticket in this country, at this moment of national peril, is not CAN’s only position, I believe that is God’s position.
“We serve a God of justice, our God is righteous, our God is the author of diversity, and he wants as diverse as we are to come together. So, CAN’s position as much as it is a righteous position, it is the position of all of us who live righteousness, justice, and diversity and are working to harness it for the advancement of this country.[/quotation]
Yakubu Dogara was included in a small group of northern Christian politicians that Mr Tinubu had been advised to consider for his potential running partner. However, the presidential contender declined to accept them.
The same faith ticket is an insult to a large number of capable Christians in the North and around the country, according to CAN leaders who have stated this over the past month. The decision is inconsiderate and has the potential to ignite the country, it was further stated.
[quotation]We are all aware that in the past weeks, the Nigerian mainstream media and the general public have been occupied with the discussions on the Muslim-Muslim ticket by the All Progressive Congress (APC), one of the political parties in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.
“We clearly want to emphasize that this is not healthy for the highly diversified Nigerian space, especially in the face of the growing and alarming insecurity in our nation at the moment. Any well-meaning presidential candidate will focus on the all-inclusive Federal Character.[/quotation]
Therefore, the Nigerian Christian young are conscious of the division and tension that are currently stoking a hot political climate in Nigeria and would not support or encourage any action or decision that could further divide and ignite our country.
Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket offends Nigerians’ sensibilities, and Christian young are strongly objecting! The organization’s president for North Central, Alfred Olushola, had said.
The APC’s flag bearer Mr Tinubu and other party veterans have claimed that the party is making the correct choice and that other marginalised communities, including the northern Christians, have nothing to worry, about despite widespread public unease and condemnation of the same faith ticket.
