Eminent Nigerians were divided, yesterday, over a statement credited to former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) that he would not mind a Muslim running mate if he wins the All progressives Congress, APC presidential ticket for the 2015 election.
While some said it does not matter, some argued that it is unnecessary distraction and yet others said it is
Dr Junaid Mohammed
unacceptable.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, weekend, criticised the idea, saying that the era of Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket had gone.
It does not matter — Mohammed
Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed said religion has nothing to do with the development of the country, averring that Buhari and Obasanjo were not feeling the mood of the nation.
“I don’t think these two leaders can feel the mood of the nation and as far as I am concerned, the argument over Muslim-Muslim ticket is frivolous and uncalled for. Nigerians can make their own choice either a Muslim-Muslim ticket or a Christian-Christian ticket, but they should not confuse Nigerians with this kind of argument. I believe very strongly that some of the people are hiding to smite former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu. They should allow the All Progressives Congress, APC, to decide what they want and let them live with the consequences, I believe this nation deserves the best,” he said.
Prof. Pat Utomi
It’s a distraction — Utomi
On his part, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP, in the 2011 elections, Professor Pat Utomi described the argument as a distraction from the real issues.
It calls for caution— Fasehun
Leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr Fredrick Fasehun said: ‘’We are religiously
Fredrick Fasehun
conscious in this country. And if the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue was noted by a leader whose love for the country we cannot doubt, it would have been good. But if the statement was credited to a leader who says there will be trouble and blood-letting if he didn’t win elections, then it calls for caution.”
Emphasis should be placed on competence—Tsav
Also speaking, former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav said: ‘’It is only in Nigeria that religion is made an issue. That should not be the case. Anyone that is competent and suitable for any office is entitled to vie for the position. Premium should be placed on competence and not religion. When we were growing up no one bothered about religion, all that mattered was competence. So we should de-emphasize religion.”
We ‘ll support party decision in Lagos –Basorun
Also, a leader of the APC in Lagos, Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun, said as a leader, he wants a good pair that will give APC victory at the polls.
“The debate of Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket is not in the dictionary of Lagos State politics. It is what the party at the centre decides after careful consideration of the issue that we will support. We want a good pair that will give us victory whether Muslim-Muslim, Christian-Christian, Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim. I am indifferent to religion,” he said.
It’s dead on arrival—Afenifere
Odumakin
Similarly, the Pan-Yoruba socio-economic organisation, Afenifere,described the proposal as dead on arrival.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: “It is a no deal. It is dead on arrival. This is not 1993. If June 12 had not been annulled, then this could have happened. After the annulment, they annulled the possibility of a Muslim-Muslim ticket or a Christian-Christian ticket. Everything must now be about balance. Anybody that is thinking of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2015, perhaps can do that in Sambisa forest.”
It’s insensitive — Ayo Adebanjo
Adebanjo
On his part, Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said “that is condemnable and insensitive to public opinion in the country now”.
Chief Adebanjo added that such proposal “won’t help anybody in the country because it is insensitive.”
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
