The All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 presidential ticket by Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima has just met stiff resistance as religious leaders in the northern part of the country show rejection for a single faith ticket.
OsunDaily News understands that APC’s choice of Muslim-Muslim ticket has been facing a series of rejections after Tinubu announced Shettima, a Muslim man from the North as his Vice Presidential candidate for the 2023 race.
Despite the calls for a review of the party’s choice, the ruling party maintained the status quo. However, a few months into the 2023 polls, Christian and Muslim leaders in the Northern region have reportedly united against religious and divisive tendencies in the polity.
The religious and political stakeholders said in line with the APC Northern Christian leaders’ communique issued on July 29, 2022, they have unanimously agreed with some Muslim brothers and sisters across the 19 northern states and the FCT to form a united front against the ruling party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
The latest development, OsunDaily News understands was the outcome of a consultative meeting and dialogue between Northern APC Christian Leaders and Northern Muslim Political Leaders held on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.
Identity Of Nothern Leaders In The ‘Gang Up’ To Boycott Tinubu/Shettima’s Single Faith Ticket
OsunDaily News understands that the said gang-up meeting of the northern religious and political leaders was in line with the resolve of Christian leaders within the ruling camp, led by the immediate-past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal.
The political stakeholders are working with their Muslim counterparts in the North to adopt one of the presidential candidates in a bid to defeat the same-faith presidential ticket of the APC.
In a statement jointly signed by a former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and former Minister of Water Resources during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Hon. Mukhtar Shagari and Hon. Dogara, the names of those in attendance and in agreement with the resolution are listed as follows: “Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari; Boni Haruna; Abdulfatah Ahmed; Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara; Engr Babachir David Lawal; Hon Damishi Sango; Senator Idris Ahmed Umar; Yomi Awoniyi; Simon Achuba; Hon. Ummara Kumalia; Hon. Baba Shehu Agaie; Air Marshal Monday Morgan (Rtd); General Ishaya Bauka (rtd); Mohammed Sani Sidi; Hon. John B. Bawa; Dr Iliya Stephen Mshelia, and Sarah Allabeh-Nanpon.
“Others include Shina Ibiyemi; Dr. Auwalu Anwar; Dr. Yakubu Tor-Agbidye; Hon Hassan Jonga; Hon. Dauda Bundot; Alhaji Abdul Abubakar; Alhaji Musa Bello; Ishaku Pennap; Hon. Leah Solomon; Mohammed Alhaji Yakubu; Professor Salamatu Machunga; Barrister Mela Nanghe, SAN; Reverend Joseph Hayab; Dr Mrs Ruth Magaji; Reverend Innocent Solomon; Reverend Habila Tengya; Hon Haruna Mohammed, and Hon. Gwamna Dimas.
It was revealed further in the statement that a former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema; Senator Adamu Aliero; Capt. Idris Wada; Senator Umaru Tsauri; Imam Sani Ishaq and Sheik Halliru Maraya, who could not make it to the meeting, adopted all decisions and resolutions of the meeting.
“We have agreed to work together with a view to fostering unity, peace and national cohesion. To work together and jointly adopt a pan-Nigerian political platform that will engender unity, inclusiveness and a sense of belonging among the Nigerian citizenry,” the statement added.
The group in the communique said: “Conscious of the multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural configuration of Nigeria we believe that a same faith ticket and voting along religious lines may trigger dangerous dimensions of negative consequences among our disparate peoples in ways that will hamper nation building. Consequently, we have agreed to channel our energies on matters that unite us more as a people instead of encouraging attacks on sensitive issues bothering on religion in the name of politics.
“In view of the above, we have agreed to set up a committee with the mandate to fashion out strategies for advancing the objectives set forth in this resolution.”
This article was originally published on OsunDaily News
