…Set committee on way forward
…You can’t vote for Atiku, says Okechuchukwu
By Ezeocha Nzeh
After its rejection of the Muslim – Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (A{PC), ahead of the 2023 general elections, Northern Christians leaders in the ruling party have set up a committee to guide it and provide political direction ahead of the 2023 general election.
The Northern APC leaders, who met on Saturday in Abuja openly rejected the party’s choice of former Governor of Boro Sate, Kashim Shettima, a Muslim, as running mate to its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed, also a Muslim, describing the decision as an insult to Northern Christians in the APC
Rising from its meeting, the APC leaders in a communiqué, jointly signed by Doknan Sheni (Plateau) North Central, Ishaya Bauka (Taraba) North East and Saidu Ibrahim (Jigawa) North West, declared that the committee would arrive at the best platform towards collectively building a united multi-religious, multi-ethnic society.
The leaders explained that after careful considerations and deliberations, the summit resolved that the adoption of a Muslim–Muslim ticket by their party was divisive, unjust and insensitive to the overall interest of Nigerians.
According to the communique, “We resolved that we will set up a committee within us with a mandate to go round Nigeria and consult with both Christians and Muslim stakeholders, including other stakeholders.
The faith-based religion leaders said that they also resolved to summon an interfaith summit in no distant future after consultations were concluded across religious divides towards finding a better solution on the best way Nigerians especially from the northern states which political party to support.
The communiqué believed that after the consultations, the Muslim and Christian leaders will announce the best Pan Nigerian platform that will better serve the collective interest of the people beyond 2023.
It stated that all delegates would return to their communities and disseminate the resolutions and await the convocation of the next summit where a final decision would be taken on the ticket that they will collectively vote for in 2023.
Meanwhile, a foundation member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr Osita Okechukwu has posited that Northern Christians would not vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar.
Reacting to the Northern Christians outrage over APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket, Okechukwu who is the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), said he shares their anguish on identity politics and fears, but knows that in the fullness of time, contrary to the speculations of spin doctors, they would not vote for the former Vice President.
He assured that whatever marginalisation the Northern Christians suffered today, they would suffer no more if the APC standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu becomes the President
He said: “Our first slogan in APC is change. Our mantra is change. We will not remain static, never. We will change whatever is not working. All we ask Nigerians is to give us another 8 years as you gave our sister political party, the PDP.”
“Regarding the Northern Christians outrage over APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket; if any pundit thinks they will vote for Atiku, my answer is ‘Capital No’. No matter what, they know he is bringing nothing new to the table.”
“Find out, Northern Christians do not trust Atiku. They know his cherry-picking antics as per rule of law and rotation convention. They also know his ambivalence on religion, as demonstrated in the late Deborah’s imbroglio in Sokoto, which is still fresh in the mind of every Christian.”
“Secondly, they know that Tinubu and by extension the Yorubas’ DNA is devoid of religious extremism and bigotry. Yorubas celebrate Eid and Xmas together.”
“As a matter of fact, without being personal, one was a witness when my dear friend Babachir Lawal informed the world during his Thanksgiving Church Service at ECWA Wuse, that Tinubu and Pa Akande were instrumental to his appointment as Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF). May one ask, is it possible that neither Tinubu nor Pa Akande didn’t know any Northern Muslim then to lobby for? Or has Tinubu changed 360 degrees?”
“Yes, faith balance is very important in building bonds of inclusion, so is rotation convention which bonds north and south, and cements inclusion and corporate existence. This is why I continue to salute APC’s Northern Governors, majority of whom unlike PDP’s Governors by this noble patriotism, restored equity, natural justice and national loyalty in our clime,” Okechukwu stated
