The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is mounting pressure on the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Mohammed Naga, to withdraw his statement on the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate to All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The cleric is being threatened to withdraw the honest statement he made by the PDP leadership, which has demonstrated intolerance after violating the principles of zoning and power shift”, said a Borno APC chieftain.
The chieftain said PDP has further incurred the wrath of the North by saying that the Muslim-dominated North is not entitled to the slot for running mate in a ruling party that has produced the president from the North for eight years.
There is a groundswell of support for the APC ticket among Muslims and Christians in the North, based on their appreciation of the reality of the calculations that led to the consolidation of the ticket.
The Chairman of Borno State, Christians Association of Nigeria, Bishop Mohammed Naga, has applauded the selection of the former governor of the state, Senator Kashim Shettima, as the vice-presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Bishop Naga, in a statement, said the Christian community in Borno State has never had a better deal than under Shettima, who governed the state between 2011 and 2019.
Naga, who described Shettima as a compassionate leader, said: “In the history of Borno State, there is no governor who has been fair to the Christian Community in this state as much as Governor Kashim Shettima.
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“I am saying this in the presence of God Almighty and this is nothing but the truth. Governor Shettima, in the history of Borno, is the only Governor that has sponsored the highest number of Christian Pilgrims every year since 2011.
“I am speaking boldly without fear or favour because as CAN Chairman I do not receive salary or kobo from the Government or any institution, but the facts need to be told. This governor has shown compassion to the Christian Community.”
Also rejecting the Muslim/Muslim ticket, PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said it is”divisive and exclusionist politics.”
He added: “So, while our opponents might think that there is an easy road to victory in divisive politics, we must get the message across to them that Nigeria has seen the worst shade of exclusionist politics and the road ahead is the path of inclusive and unifying politics. That is what we stand for.”
However, a cleric, Rev. Father Oluoma, said: “Crying over APC’s candidates in the midst of other candidates questions our readiness to change the status quo or our capacity to make and accept informed decisions.
“There’s only one major reason behind the Muslim-muslim ticket by APC; electoral victory. Without a Muslim VP, the APC will lose significant votes from the North and probably lose the entire presidency. This is the fear and the reason for a Muslim VP. Don’t let anyone beguile you to make it a religious problem, if you do, you will keep losing the big picture.
I’ll never reduce this issue to religious problem, it’s more of political dexterity. APC chose electoral votes over religious sentiments. Of course APC knows a number of christians will be offended, but they still went ahead probably knowing that the mathematics of more votes favor them in this issue more than feelings.”
