Bola Tinubu, APC presidential candidate.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – A Plateau State socio-cultural group, Plateau Our Heritage Revival Initiative, POHri has condemned the same faith Presidential ticket promoted by the All Progressives Congress, APC ahead of the 2023 election and called on well-meaning Nigerians to vote for candidates and Parties that have demonstrated that the unity of Nigeria and the people are their priority.
The group stated that the Muslim/Muslim ticket negates the spirit of national unity and cohesion adding that it is embarrassing for the APC to give an impression that there are no qualified, competent, and credible persons in Northern Nigeria that can fit into the equation other than Muslims.
In a statement signed by Alexander Kwapnoe, Chairman, POHri, and Friday Bako, Secretary, POHri noted that the development is already causing disaffection among Nigerians.
According to them, “With the 2023 general elections underway and political parties making frantic efforts to meet up with the deadlines for the submission of candidates and running mates in the case of Governorship and Presidential Candidates, it is important that we bare the minds of the generality of our group and majority of the people of Plateau State on the recent choice of the running mate by the candidate of the ruling party, APC.
“While as a Group, we emphasize credibility, competence, character and capacity, equity, fairness, and justice, in no way will we fold our arms and watch the unity and cohesion of Nigeria being jettisoned by people who ought to understand the implications of certain political decisions considering the fragility of the Nigerian State at this point with the level of suspicion, extremism, gangsterism, and the cry of marginalization by persons/groups, sections, and zones of the Country…
READ: Akwa Ibom senator dumps PDP
“The decision to have Muslim-Muslim ticket is not taken to reflect national unity/cohesion and if that is allowed then the propensity to have persons and groups being disenchanted is high and that will pave way for suspicion and other unhealthy disposition across the country. It is also embarrassing to give an impression that there are no qualified, competent, and credible persons in Northern Nigeria that can fit into the equation when we have millions who are well equipped in Northern Nigeria that is not Muslims but very prepared and ready to serve in any capacity including Presidency other than Muslims.
“The Muslim-Muslim Ticket to us is an insult to the other Northern Nigerians who have been contributing their quota to national growth and development. It is unacceptable and the peak of insensitivity if such is allowed to continue. We want to call on all reasonable Nigerians to question very strongly any candidate or party that is not considering the unity, oneness, and togetherness of Nigeria in its political decision. What would have happened if a Christian was the Flag Bearer of the APC and picked another Christian as a running mate?
“… We call on well-meaning Nigerians to vote for candidates and Parties that have demonstrated that the unity of Nigeria and the people are their priority since other options that are in tandem with national cohesion and respect for its people abound, that is the beauty of plurality of democracy.”
