Muslim/Muslim Ticket: I Won’t Vote APC-Cardinal Onaiyekan

A former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, says the ruling APC will face the consequence of picking the same faith ticket for next year’s presidential election.

The party has faced a backlash from not a few Nigerians for choosing Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kassim Shetima as presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2023 presidential election. Both are Muslims.

The party has fired back saying the action is strategic in other to retain power next year.

Speaking on the issue, Cardinal Onaiyekan said Nigerians would decide whether the party took the right decision by fielding two Muslims as its presidential candidate.

On his part, Onaiyekan said he will not vote for the party.

The cardinal spoke at the first synod of the Catholic Diocese of Osogbo at Our Lady and St Kizito Pastoral Centre, Oke Gada Ede, in Abuja the nation’s capital on Wednesday.

The event was part of the efforts of the church to promote dialogue and reconciliation among various communities in the country.

He explained that the Catholic Church has not taken a decision on the issue, and will not interfere on it because in other not to be seen to be partisan.

The reason, he said, is because the church has members across all the political parties and would not decide for parties how to chose their candidates.

Onaiyekan said, “the Muslim/Muslim ticket is a political decision taken by APC as a party on the calculation that is their best way to win the election or ensure their victory in 2023.

“There is no point telling them not to take such a decision, all you can say is that they will have to accept responsibility for the decision they have taken. I only have one voter’s card and by God’s grace I will use it. I will not vote for a Muslim/Muslim ticket, that is my decision.

“But since it is a political decision of a political party, what the church can do officially is bring out this fact and tell people that they should take their political decision accordingly.

“When the APC election leadership appointed Governor of Plateau State, Solomon Lalong, as Director of Campaign of APC who is a Catholic, he took the decision politically.

“The only time when we called him to order was when he dragged the name of Pope into the appointment and political discussion. He tendered his apology which was accepted by us because he is a member of Papa knight.

“APC is still considered a legitimate party in Nigeria. Many Catholics are in APC, not only as members, but hold vital positions. According to our church, we will not involve in partisan politics.”

Meanwhile, not a few believe that Onaiyekan position on the APC Muslim/Muslim ticket will influence many Nigerians in taking informed decision  on who to vote for in the 2023 presidential election.