By Daniel A. Noah Osa-Ogbegie, esq.
Any Nigerian you see that wasn’t supporting APC or Tinubu and is showing anger at the choice of APC to present a Northern Muslim as running mate to Tinubu amd doesn’t show same disgust at PDP for presenting Atiku as their Presidential candidate, is not a person to be taken seriously.
The real anger should be against PDP for having the boldness to present Atiku Abubakar, a Northern fulani muslim as their candidate to replace another Northern fulani muslim after 8 years to do another 8 years.
The APC, citing national interest, deliberately zonned its ticket to the south, stepping down all the Northern aspirants. PDP, ever opportunistic, ensured Atiku emerged as their candidate. For them, the country can burn, they only care about power!
After ceding the ticket to the south, it would have been selfish and unwise for Tinubu or the southern APC to insist on choosing the VP. This was always going to be the decision of the Northern APC and they were always going to choose a Northern Muslim. Anyone that has any misgiving about this is either an APC hater who doesn’t wish the APC well in the coming election or is naive.
The North has 19 States. Christians only dominate the politics, business and social life of just 3 of these 19 States viz Benue, Taraba and Plateau. There are sizeable Christian population in Nassarawa ( 55 %), Adamawa ( 50 %), Borno ( 30%), etc but they are not enough to win election.
What Nigerians should look at is not the religion of the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC but whether he has the experience, intellect, temperament and passion for the job. Moreover, Kashim Shettima appears to be a liberal Muslim who has been preparing for this job and has shown his mettle as Borno Governor who was able to give the State a great successor in Prof. Zulum.
Again, Nigerians should look at Tinubu and the secularity he has shown in Lagos. Bola Tinubu has shown that he’s totally detribalised and fair minded. When he was Lagos Governor, he treated Christians same way he treated Muslims. Since he left, Lagos has had three Governors, one Muslim and two Christians. His nominees for federal offices have mostly been Christians, starting from the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is not just a Christian but a Pastor.
Tinubu has also been married to his wife for over 45 years. He married the wife as a Christian and today, she’s a senior Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
As it is now, TINUBU IS AS MUCH A CHRISTIAN AS HIS WIFE OR ANY OTHER CHRISTIAN as he has lived with his Christian wife for so many years without rancour or forcing her to denounce Christ or renounce her faith. Even the Bible clearly pronounces Bola Tinubu a Christian, being married to a Christian. Please see 1st Corinthians 7:14 below:
“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.”
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The incoming APC government headed by Bola Tinubu ( Yoruba Liberal muslim) and Kashim Shettima ( Liberal Kanuri muslim) will unite Nigerians and guarantee economic prosperity for all because of Tinubu’s famed pan Nigerian dispositions. His government will be anchored on fairness ,competence and international best practice as we have seen in Lagos.
Nigerians who are old enough would recall that the great Moshood Abiola made a similar choice of allowing the Northern SDP to choose a running mate for him and in their wisdom, they chose a Kanuri muslim from Borno as well. Nigerians had high hopes in that ticket and voted overwhelmingly for it. History is repeating itself before us this day; this time, it shall come to fruition and Nigeria shall emerge stronger and better. God bless Nigeria.
Daniel Osa-Ogbegie writes from Etete New GRA, Benin City, Edo State.
