*Urge Northern Christians to “punish” APC by rejecting Tinubu, Shettima ticket
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Northern Christians have rejected in its ramifications the Muslim-Muslim Ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which produced Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sen. Kashim Shettima as the presidential candidate and running mate of the party, describing the action as an agenda to economically and politically marginalise Northern Christians.
The decision which was made public Friday at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja during the APC Northern Christians Leaders’ Summit in conjunction with Christians from the north.
According to them, what the APC did has proved that Tinubu and Kashim would face the herculean task convincing Christains of Northern extraction to vote for them in the 2023 poll.
The Christian leaders vowed that no Christian would vote for the present arrangement of the APC.
Speaking as the Chairman of the event which brought together Christians from the Northern States, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal stated that the Muslim-Muslim ticket was an extension of the exclusion of christains from the scheme of things in the North and in the country.
He stressed that the measure would disrupt the peace and social development of the country, arguing that the Muslim-Muslim ticket remained part of the subterranean plot to Islamise the country.
The former SGF who gave detailed reference of the marginalisation of Christains in the APC NWC, Federal Executive Council (FEC), state and federal owned institutions of learnings in the country, charged Christains across the country not to be deceived the APC leadership on the Muslim-Muslim ticket since matters of religion cannot be divulge from the politics in the country.
He said: “We are not the ones that started this fight. APC started it. They should be ready to carry this cross. We are open to discussion with whoever discuss with chrustain community in good faith.”
Lawal gave a statistical data of appointments to public institutions in the North, stressing that the appointment of leadership to those institutions are sqewed against Northern Christians which must not be allowed to worsen.
On his part as the Guest Speaker, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, described as “hogwash” the argument that the choice of Shettima was based on consideration of competence rather than his religious leanings.
According to Dogara, notwithstanding his love for Tinubu, the argument that Christian votes would not count as that of the Muslims lacks any logical basis as Nigerians irrespective of their religious leanings had ensured the emergence of former president Goodlick Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo in the past.
Dogara implored Christians to reject the actions of the APC by using their voters card as they ought to do.
He stressed that Northern Christians are not opposed to Tinubu or Shettima becoming president or vice-president, but about doing what is right.
