APC Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket could ignite religious war -groups
Amidst the wrangles crowding the issue of presidential ticket, various groups, yesterday, cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly its presidential flag bearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, against presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 general elections.
The Guardian reports that the Nigerian Youths Coalition (NYC) said the move would amount to the APC inducing a religious war.
During a world press conference in Abuja, NYC President Aare Oladotun Hassan marveled at why APC would contemplate a Muslim-Muslim ticket at a period when terrorism, unguarded remarks on ethnic discrimination, and whines over alleged Islamisation were heightening.
Furthermore, the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) encouraged APC to discard the notion of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, testifying it would mobilise votes against any political party that toes the path.
Speaking to news men in Abuja, President of YOWICAN, Belusochukwu Enwere, said: “This is an insult. It devalues and dehumanises millions of Christians. Any political party that fields a Muslim-Muslim ticket or Christian-Christian ticket should know it is about to fail because Nigeria is a secular state.
“Muslim-Muslim ticket will divide Nigeria. Any party, whether APC, Peoples Democratic Party or All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) that fields a same-religion ticket is bound to fail.
“Does it imply that northern Christians are not regarded as northerners again? If we claim that we are together, then there should be no reason not to accept a northern Christian.
“If you begin to advocate that you want a same-religion ticket, you are bound to fail, and we will do everything, as Christian youths, within our power, including mobilisation, to ensure it does not fly. We are not giving a threat. But I can say that anyone who tries it is bound to fail.”
Similarly, a group, under the aegis of Coalition of Arewa Forum For Good Governance (CAFGG), said any move by APC to allow for a Muslim-Muslim ticket would establish a crisis across the country.
According to the group, the recent tension ignited by rumours of a feasible Muslim-Muslim ticket is uncalled for and should be disposed of in the interest of equity, justice and fairness.
Nexus News gathered that in a press statement endorsed by the Coordinator, Garba Yunusa, the group said: “Nigerians are not unaware that Tinubu is a Muslim from the southwest geopolitical zone. Thus, we feel it would be rational for a northern Christian, especially from the marginalised north-central zone, to be his running mate.
“We strongly believe that once a Christian is picked, the warnings and threats by the Christian Association of Nigeria would have been taken care of.”
However, a segment of APC stakeholders, led by Mr. Aliyu Audu, spoke in a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, saying: “Nigeria is in dire need of good governance, and this can come from either a Muslim leader or a Christian leader.
“But in the spirit of nationalism, justice and fairness, which the northern governors demonstrated a few days ago, the leaders of the north, on whose shoulder the emergence of the vice-presidential candidate rests, must also demonstrate this spirit by ensuring that the candidate comes from the Christian faith.” he added.
