Christian elders in Northern Nigeria have alleged that the presidential candidsate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has resorted to using his money to cause division among the ranks of Northern Christians, following the groups rejection of APC’s Muslim Muslim presidential ticket, ahead of the 2023 general election
The elders therefore warned the APC and its presidential candidate against causing division among Christians with money.
The warning which was contained in a statement issued by the chairman of Northern States Christian Elders Forum, Oyinehi Inalegwu, on Tuesday, cautioned APC to stop using monetary incentives to recruit and cause divisions amongst the Christians, especially in the North
“NOSCEF is concerned that apart from the failure of the desire of the architects of the single faith ticket to cause serious divisions in the forthcoming elections, APC has resorted to clandestine ways of causing division in the body of Christ by recruiting hitherto unknown bodies in the Body of Christ to counter decisions taken by the umbrella body, CAN and its various organs.
“We warn that every patriotic Presidential aspirant should avoid the same faith ticket to avoid polarisation of the nation further along religious lines.
“Before the commencement of the primaries, NOSCEF again warned presidential aspirants against the one faith ticket in a Nigeria begging for unity, inclusiveness, fairness, and justice.
“Because there was a long term goal and a purpose to be accomplished, APC went ahead with the single faith venture, with the aim of riding on the wings of divisive religious politics to victory,” the statement said.
The statement noted further, “We frown at the publicity they use to their advantage, to make public ridicule of Christian bodies, particularly in the North, for the purpose of causing disaffection, just to win the election.
“We all know as Christians, Muslims, and people of other faith, that unity, fairness, justice, and inclusiveness will engender National progress, rather than the war of divisive religious, political game, intended through the instrumentation of same faith ticket.
“Christian and Muslim faithful should disappoint divisive self seeking politicians, who want to capitalize on our religious differences to gain political power,” the statement stressed.
