By Akinwale Kasali
A Group within the All Progressives Congress, APC, has hailed the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for making a U-turn on its hard stand over the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the Party. APC’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, had picked another Muslim, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate. The choice met serious opposition by especially, Christian bodies.
The APC said the apex Christian body showed a sense of maturity, which is a welcome development.
APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, applauded CAN for showing maturity in accommodating the party’s candidate.
Speaking further, Ibrahim said only an unreasonable person would consider Tinubu a religious bigot when virtually his entire household practises the Christian Faith.
“Those who are agitating against Muslim-Muslim ticket are wrongly directing their anger at Tinubu. He is one person who is indiscriminate when it comes to religious standing. If he is a conservative or an extremist, he will not allow himself to stay under the same roof with a woman of different faith.
“There is nothing wrong with CAN invitation. Tinubu himself has made it very clear that he is not going to govern by religion. He also said his policies will not be influenced by religion.
“By now, we must have heard that his wife and children are Christians. Only an intolerant person can accept that reality.
“I am sure CAN has come to rescind its earlier stance and allow room for reasoning. It is good to talk, which I observe is beginning to yield result. You know politics is all about give and take. Sometimes you don’t get when you don’t ask. How you ask also matters in some cases. The ultimate aim is for you to get,” he stated.
This is coming up days after the former Lagos State Governor met with the leadership of CAN at a political roundtable, where he reassured the religious body that he will not run his administration on the basis of religion if elected as president.
Following this development, a Pro-Tinubu Group under the aegis of City Boy Progressive Group said CAN reconsideration of its earlier decision not to accommodate him over the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket should be applauded.
The Coordinator of the Group at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Olanrewaju Omolayo, hailed the religious organisation over its renewed position, stressing that it signifies that the leadership has shifted from their previous stance of not wanting anything to do with the same faith ticket.
He said, “I want to seize this opportunity to appreciate CAN for their new position concerning the political atmosphere of this country. They had a meeting with the presidential candidate some days ago and presented him with some demands of issues to tackle. It is a sign that they have shifted from their previous stance that they won’t assent to the contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“I appreciate and encourage them. I am a pastor too to the glory of God and I assure you that the Asiwaju we all know is not a religious bigot. What Nigeria needs now is who can fix the country. Asiwaju fixed Lagos. I came to Lagos in 1971 and left the state in 1994. I know what it was then and what it has become now. I want to encourage Nigerians to look beyond religion in choosing our leaders. I want to praise CAN again for taking a new position to give all the presidential candidates running for 2023 a level playing field.”
