…..Says It will further entrench national division
Just as the All Progressives Congress,APC presidential candidate,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,has reportedly settled for same faith ticket,the Bishop of Rhema Church, Taiwo Akinola has said any presidential candidate that succumbs to a mono-faith ticket would unwittingly increased the numerical strength of his opponents, and further entrench national division.
He disclosed this on weekend in a press conference organised by Christ Global Network held in Rhema Christian Church and Tower Ota, Ogun State.
Said he,”We venture to suggest that any presidential candidate that succumbs to a mono-faith ticket will find out too late that he has unwittingly increased the numerical strength of his opponents, and has equally invigorated zestful anger in the hearts of other ordinary citizens in Nigeria.”
“We are all aware that the idea of a mono-faith candidature is being contemplated in some leading political circles presently. But, as freeborn and bonafide citizens of this great country, Nigeria, we are deeply concerned about the potential consequences of such an arrangement. Thus, we hereby speak up against it before it becomes too late.
“Truth is, on merits, no region or religion has the monopoly of qualified people who have the capabilities to serve as presidents or running mates to presidential candidates. Everyone in Nigeria is important, and every religious choice is honored in our secularist constitution. What is not acceptable in the current political permutations is the entrenched domination of one over the other”, he said.
Bishop Akinola stressed that It is a fact that political calculations sometimes necessitate very difficult decisions, but advised major political parties, All Progressive Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party and their candidates that same-faith candidature is certainly not a route to take at all in today’s Nigeria, where religion is one of the major dividing lines, alongside ethnicity and region.
The cleric opined that it should be well taken that a Muslim-Muslim ticket would unwittingly fuel a further cry against the real or preconceived allegations of an Islamization agenda, and furthermore exacerbate prevalent political and religious crisis. “It is just commonsensical and a patriotic appreciation of Nigeria’s religious diversity, therefore, to totally avoid it”, he said.
“In particular reference to our present volatile situation on many fronts, and given the fact that the current presidency is headed by a Northern-Fulani-Muslim, it is just fair for all respectable political parties to do a South/North candidacy, combined with Christian/Moslem or Muslim/Christian pairing as we prepare for 2023 elections.
“We advise that all our political decisions must be fair and just, henceforth. Democracy must be all-inclusive. Christians and people of other faiths, Southern and Northern regions must be duly recognized and carried along in our public political spaces in the interest of a united, peaceful and prosper,rous Nigeria”, he said.
As the year 2023 draws closer, the Bishop said political parties should strictly charge their followers to avoid any form of thuggery, hooliganism, and Malvo, license.
“Supporters should be taught to canvass for their erred candidates with decorum rather than trading in insults and curses at the slightest provocation. Please, let’s add civility to this thing. Let’s be wise and act right because we have no other country we can truly call ours”, he asked.
