Politics
By Anthony Isibor.
THE South-East Youths and Elders Forum, an Igbo socio-political organization, has condemned the speculations of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The group in a statement demanded for equity, fairness and justice and that a Christian should be nominated as Sen. Bola Tinubu’s running mate.
The group said after its emergency meeting that it would “instead opt for Boss Mustapha, secretary to the federal government as running mate”.
It will be recalled that there has been speculations that Sen. Bola Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of the ruling APC, who is a Muslim, would pick another Muslim to be his running mate and this has raised some concerns and debates across the country.
The Igbo group noted that that both Christians and Muslims are endowed with qualified and credible persons for the office of the President and the Vice President alike and that since the presidential candidate of the ruling party is already a Muslim, the vice president should be a Christian.
It said therefore that to say that only Muslims have credible persons to serve as presidential and running mate for the ruling APC would amount to “violation of logic and abuse of inter-religious harmony”.
“We have noted with great concern the ongoing needless debate on the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC over who becomes it’s running mate for next year’s presidential election.
“We are at a loss to say the least that those promoting the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket do not wish the country well, especially now that the country is divided along ethnic and religious fault lines.
“Faith or religion has the monopoly of credible persons who have the capacity to serve as running mate to the presidential candidate of the ruling APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, if merit should be the yardstick for nominating anyone.
“APC should consider the peace and stability of the country in deciding who it picks as running mate for Tinubu because democracy is not all about election but about what happens after elections.
“If we divide the people along religious lines because we want to win election, we will find it difficult to bring them together after the election.
“If the nation’s security agencies have not been able to defeat the high level of insecurity in the land due to its ethnic dimensions, we wonder what the nation would be should the various agitations and crimes in the land assume religious dimension,” the group said.
The group therefore suggested Boss Mustapha for his patriotic services to the nation and his ability to galvanize votes for the ruling party next year.
“We arrived at the choice of Mustapha because of his non-denominational and diplomatic prowess and capacity to relate with both Christian and Muslim communities not only at the nominal level but at a deeper level; especially at the national inter-religious council level, which is the highest decision making body for all faiths in the country.
“Boss Mustapha has enough national and international goodwill, which is an intangible asset to galvanize supports and votes for the APC next year and beyond,” the group added.
The communiqué was signed by Uche Ngene, Director of Media and Publicity, Southeast Youths and Elders Forum, Frank Odo, Enugu State Coordinator, Southeast Youths and Elders Forum, Cletus Ajah, Ebonyi State Coordinator, Southeast Youths and Elders Forum, Alloy Ochulor, Abia State Coordinator, Southeast Youths and Elders Forum, Samuel Njoku, Imo State Coordinator, Southeast Youths and Elders Forum, and Gabriel Offor, Anambra State Coordinator, Southeast Youths and Elders Forum.
– June 17, 2022 @ 10:43 GMT | AI.
Tags: APC Boss Mustapha Sen. Bola Tinubu
