*Faults APC over Muslim-Muslim ticket
An Ijaw national leader and convener of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has faulted the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over his choice of a fellow Muslim-Senator Kashim Shettima – as his running mate.
Tinubu had announced former Borno State Governor, as his running mate for the 2023 general elections.
According to Tinubu, his decision was “in the spirit of 1993” when Nigerians “embraced Chief MKO Abiola and a fellow Muslim running mate”.
But Clark has disagreed with Tinbubu, saying that it is wrong for the former Lagos State Governor to compare 1993 with 2023 on the grounds that the county is now sharply divided along religious lines
In a statement made available on Monday, Clark said the decision by Tinubu did not reflect the secular state of the country, saying that a Muslim-Muslim ticket will promote division.
He added that Tinubu’s decision on Muslim –Muslim ticket is insensitive, saying that the development cannot promote inclusiveness as another major religion has been excluded the topmost positions of president and vice president.
The statement reads in part, “I feel threatened for our beloved country because of the way things are going. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, with Christianity and Islam as the major religions, even though Nigeria is a secular state.
“In compliance with Constitutional provisions of inclusiveness, the number one and number two positions in the country, viz, President and Vice President, have always been occupied by practitioners of the two major religions, to ensure balancing.
“It will be recalled that the presidential candidate of the APC, Alhaji Bola Tinubu, could not be chosen in 2015 as Vice President to Muhammadu Buhari, because he is a Muslim and Muhammadu Buhari is a Muslim. Tinubu, in his own words, confirmed this in his statement in Abeokuta, Ogun State. What has changed? One quality of a good leader is consistency. A good leader must act in the same way at all times, to all people. He must not display double standards.
“Today, what has the presidential candidate of the APC, Alhaji Tinubu, done? He has picked a person of his religion, a Muslim, as his running-mate. Such a choice is not inclusive, it is not good for a secular state like Nigeria.
“There is presently a sharp division in the country, even on religious lines, and all patriots are seeking ways to salvage the situation. Therefore, Alhaji Tinubu’s decision to take a fellow Muslim as his running-mate, will further worsen the situation in the country. He should know that patriotism is a quality of a good leader.
“On the reasons adduced by Alhaji Tinubu on why he chose Kashim Shettima as running mate, is the APC presidential flag bearer telling Nigerians that there are no Christians in the APC from the North who are ‘competent, capable and reliable?’”
Clark further berated the decision of the APC to field people from the same religion as presidential and vice-presidential candidates, saying that the action shows that a certain section of the country has been excluded.
The Ijaw Leader also reminded the APC that it is wrong for him to assume that the South has no significant role in winning the presidency.
He said, “It is an illusion to think that except one is from the North, you may not win the election. So, the idea that unless you come from the North or you are a Muslim, or a Muslim supports you if you are not a Muslim, you cannot win an election, should immediately be jettisoned by proponents of such an idea.
The North needs the South to be in power, same way the South needs the North to be in power. No part can do it alone.
“About 46% or more of Nigerians are Christians. Yet a group of persons want to sideline and exclude them from the affairs of the country. This is not possible.
“The question is, is Alhaji Tinubu under pressure from these his core supporters and backers, to pick a Muslim as his running-mate, and did he cave in to the pressure because “it is his turn to be President of Nigeria”, despite complaints and protestations.
“The PDP is the cause of these things because of its refusal to zone its presidency to the South.”
Faulting Tinubu in comparing 1993 to 2023, Edwin Clark said, “These are dangerous signals. Alhaji Tinubu cannot compare 2022/2023 with 1993. In 1993, majority of Nigerians, on their own volition, supported the Muslim/Muslim ticket of M.K.O. Abiola and Babagana Kingibe of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), as President and Vice President, 29 years ago.
“It was not shoved on them; it was not forced on them. Also, during that period, Nigeria was not so divided on ethnic and religious divides. If people are complaining, a good leader should listen. Unfortunately, we have leaders who not only ignore the concerns of the people with impunity, but also make crass statements.”
