Prominent Christians in the country’s biggest opposition party, All Progressives Congress, are threatening to quit the party over an alleged plan to field a Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket. There has been speculation in recent times that power brokers in the party have concluded plans to present a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the 2015 presidential election.
But it was gathered that some leaders of the party, who are Christians, are insisting that the party should present a Muslim/Christian ticket through a primary election or they would leave the party.
The leaders also kicked against a consensus candidature, which they described as an imposition by a section of the leadership.
There were reports last week that the hierarchy of the party had concluded plans to field a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, as the party’s presidential candidates through a consensus arrangement.
Both Buhari and Tinubu are Muslims.
Sources said party strategists hoped that the Muslim/Muslim arrangement would help the party sweep the North-West, North-East, South-West and Edo State in the South-South. Buhari is hugely popular in the North-West and North-East while his proposed running mate, Tinubu is a major political power broker in the South-West and some parts of the South-South.
Even though the party, through its spokesman, Mr. Lai Mohammed, has denied the plan to present a Buhari/Tinubu ticket, it has not stopped prominent Christian members from protesting and threatening to quit the party.
It was further learnt that those angry with the leadership of the party included members who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC.
Five PDP governors, 37 members of the House of Representatives and members of the defunct New PDP, a breakaway faction of the PDP, had dumped the ruling party for the opposition party in 2013.
Majority of the Christian leaders, who spoke to newsmen on Friday, described the alleged plan to field Buhari and Tinubu as the party’s candidates as “unfair and inconsiderate.”
A top Christian official of the party, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity, said aspirants should go through a primary election and the party must present a Muslim/Christian ticket to the electorate.
“They have been nursing the plan for long and they are close to hatching it. Any Buhari/Tinubu or Muslim/Muslim ticket may mark the end of the party. It will be an insult to us the Christians and we will not hesitate to leave their party for them,” the source stated.
Another aggrieved top shot of the party, who also pleaded anonymity, said although Buhari and Tinubu had not made their intention to contest known, the alleged plan was already creating tension in the party.
“That is what they want to do and we will not agree with it. A lot of us are aware but nobody wants to speak out yet. It is an open secret; everybody is aware. There is a massive reaction against it from all corners. Even APC members in the United Kingdom and America are protesting. Christian leaders in Nigeria have been calling us to say they will not support a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
“They stand the risk of splitting this party if they are not careful. This is a very sad development. The Peoples Democratic Party will take advantage of it. Some people that joined us from the PDP are already threatening to go back because of this Muslim/Muslim ticket controversy,” the source stated
Similarly, the first civilian governor of Edo State, John Odigie-Oyegun, who is a prominent member of APC, said that a primary election must take place to elect candidates.
He said, “I know the party has been discussing this issue (ticket) and we are in the process of setting up our structures. It is for the people to decide; not even the national executive can take that decision. We must have primaries. Even if there is only one aspirant, we will still conduct a primary election to confirm the aspirant. It is impossible to impose. Who can impose? With the way the party is structured, it won’t be easy for anybody to impose.”
A former Minister of Aviation and member of the APC, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, had on Monday warned the leadership of the party against fielding Muslims as both its presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the election.
He said, “I have said it privately in countless political meetings and I will say it publicly today. Please mark it, the biggest mistake that my party, the APC, can make is to field a Muslim/Muslim ticket in the 2015 Presidential election. If we do that, we will not only offend the Christian community but we will also lose the election woefully.”
However, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nasir el-Rufai, in his response to Fani-Kayode on social media, said the APC would present an integrity-competence ticket and not one based on religion. “Politics and governance are not to be mixed or dictated to by any religion,” he stated.
El-Rufai added, “The APC will present to Nigerians the best persons with the integrity, capacity and competence to create jobs, fight corruption and rebuild our nation without discrimination.
“How these persons worship the Almighty God is private to them and does not matter to discerning Nigerians, particularly young people that suffer most from bad governance, unemployment and the Jonathanian culture of impunity.”
Speaking to reporters on Friday, however, Fani-Kayode advised those nursing the plan to forget about it.
He said, “Presenting a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the 2015 presidential election no matter how cleverly rationalised, defended or justified in the pursuit of an ideal or in the name of political correctness, will be a terrible insult to the 80 million Christians that are part and parcel of this country and it will result in their voting, en masse, for another party.”
He said present-day politics was different from that of 1993, when a Muslim/Muslim ticket won the presidential election. He warned that Christians should not be taken for granted or sacrificed “on the altar of political expediency.”
“Any party that seeks to do that ceases to be a political party and can be better described as a religious cult and no Christian worth his salt can or will ever be a member of such a cult. I will not be a party to such and I will leave if they are not comfortable with the truth.” the ex-minister stated.
Another Christian leader of the party, who did not want his name mentioned, on Friday said the party risked disintegration, if the leadership decided to present its candidates through consensus arrangement. He said all aspirants should be offered a level–playing field.
“If they pick Buhari as the consensus candidate, or even if he wins in the primary contest, and he picks a Muslim running mate, what do you think would happen? Do you think the Christian leaders in the APC would sit back and take that?
“They know what the reaction would be but they don’t care. They believe they can attract Muslims from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC to support them; they will get the votes of Muslims in the core North and in the North-Central; and they believe they will add up the votes of Muslims in the South-West.
“The APC might lose in the South-West, where the votes of Muslims and Christians are almost 50-50. Yoruba Christians will not support such a thing no matter what. The electorate in the South-East, the South-South and Christians in the North-Central would not support a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“The PDP would attract all these people and President Goodluck Jonathan will come back. They think they can use religion to defeat Jonathan but every Christian will leave the APC.”
In a related development, the Christian Association of Nigeria has faulted a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the presidency. It said the norm was that a Muslim would pick a Christian running mate.
The General Secretary, CAN, Rev. Musa Asake, said, “If you look at the composition of the APC right now, they are strictly a Muslim party. When late Chief MKO Abiola ran for presidency (in 1993), he was a Muslim and he chose a Muslim running mate. Sections unanimously voted for him without complaints. But you won’t get such from the Muslims. They want us to follow them, whether we like it or not.
“They are changing the politics in Nigeria but we are not going to go in that direction again. They should be very careful.
Speaking through the former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, Buhari said there would be no imposition in the APC.
He said, “Everything is still very speculative. If you look at how late Chief Obafemi Awolowo played his politics, he didn’t take all these religious balances into account. He went for the best candidates in his time.
“It was during the 2011 elections that religious intolerance and religious politics was raised to a very feverish height in this nation.”
Efforts to reach the Interim National Publicity Secretary, APC, Lai Mohammed, were abortive as his telephone line was switched off, while a text message sent to him was not replied. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Another Moslem Brotherhood in Nigeria. Christians be ware! Some of d Christian leaders of APC are already intimidated nd afraid of speaking out not to talk of when this plan succeeds. Una never see anything yet, hahahajajajahahahaaaa
ReplyDeleteel rufai should be watch he may love to do what bh want for nig his past should be check very well
ReplyDeleteWe are fighting over importe religions even more than tribe. Our forefathers would be so ashamed of us. That is why we have not made progress. Even the people that gave us these religions are not this crazy about it.
ReplyDeleteNice comment
DeleteI think PDP is a better party bcos APC is a religious party.
ReplyDeleteBoko Haram Party.....lafffing out loud!
ReplyDeleteReligion shld nt be an issue. What we need is a competent leader. Be it christian/christian nor Muslim/Muslim the major issue is to have competent and focussed leader that can bring posive change to this country.
ReplyDeleteSo what you mean is that there is no competent leader in both sides of the faith? they should look for them and bring one each from both religions.
Deleteall dis news abt muslem muslem is all lies just wait nd c who wl b pres nd vice pres.
ReplyDeleteBuhari is a core islamist even when he was a military head of State a muslim was his Vice. His perspective of politics is Jihadism; that to me is parochial,primodial and selfish. Down APC if this intention persist.
ReplyDeleteI want 2 salute d courage of our son,the son of the source(ffk) 4 his bold step challenging dis people call boko haram party,in an attmept 2 undermine d xtian in d country.it is God of isreal dat made them think in dat direction 2 feed muslim/muslim so as to give mr president 2 go 4 second time(Gej) PDP comes 2015 no shaking.
ReplyDeleteFFK won't join PDP no matter what! He is a progressive politician.
DeleteAlready the Christians are never in support Buhari
ReplyDeleteThe thruth is that we should not all be as fool as ffk that is microphoning religion only to suit his ambition.despite his longer years in politics as he claim, he has no single suppoter in the west ,and not as popular as tinubu.what should be nigerians collective concern now is making progress and institute the needed change in our politics.
ReplyDeleteI think we hv to wake up frm slumber,let pull off all dis sentiment,both tribe nd religion,we hv to open our eye to get a beter candidate irrespective of tribe nd religion.Infact if it is Idol washiper can do it beter let put him,our leader has been using all dis discrimination to divert our attention in other to do tin dat favour dem.Pls Wat is d essence of puting Muslim/christen who can nt deliver,pls if Muslim/Muslim or christen/christen or idol worshipers can deliver pls let APC present dem our becos am tired of all dis sentiment or discrimination all I want is actualizer.be wise!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think Tinubu the self acclaimed wisest Politician of the South West will in next coming days fall woefully because of the resistance that will come from some angles in APC . ; Here is Brazil' was said by one Actor in a film to an American . Here is a National issue and not in the West you assume yourself to be the Lord of all though in a criminal way . Sir, do you need to be told that some certain things will not be done in the Party the way you want them to be in as much as you might have invested some of the Lagos` State stolen money in the Party? From the look of things there is not yet an opposition Party in Nigerian , that will be when some people can allow the humility in them of cause if any at all to override the pomposity and egoism in them . To heat the nail at the head if what APC has in their plan is Buhari/Tinubu Christians in the Party need not to be told that they should leave the party . So this the level of the wisdom people like El-Rufai has that makes him to always call GEJ a fool .Anyway one has been mistakenly given the opportunity to hold one or two Federal appointments does not make him or her a wise one . Let it not be said that APC had absorbed those that were the problems of PDP .
ReplyDeleteFFK is contesting the vice president againt Tinubu,and the question now is party or popularity
ReplyDeletePls we hv wake up frm slumber,don't let our leader use weapon on discrimination of tribe md religion to divart our attion for their own selfish interest,pls what is d essence of puting Muslim/christen which dey can deliver.pls let pull descriminatoin of tribe nd religion,all Wat we want is gud government.if its Muslim/Muslim, Chretien/christen or idol worshipers can do it better,pls let APC present dem becos we need actualizer.pls be wise!!!!!!..We need positive change
ReplyDeletewe hv to pull of d attitude of discrimination being religion or tribe,becos our leader usually use dat to divert our attention for their own selfish interest.pls I need actualuzer who can bring possitive change either Muslim,chriten or idol worshipers.pls be wise!!!!!!!!!@
ReplyDeleteWe all know from day one that APC is Northern anti Christian Presidency project in joint venture with the west collaborated by Tinubu. The christians like they are anywhere are humle nd not easily taken to sectional persuation although they know the intention of APC from unset they allow it to crest and become obvious. Muslims have no regard for Christians period.
ReplyDeleteTha idea of APC using a Buhari / Tinubu ticket as there presidential Candidate for 2015 is d beginning of failure.
ReplyDeletePRESIDENTIAL RESULT DR GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN AND ARC SAMBO HAS BEEN RE ELECTED AS PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT RESPECTIVELY. NIGERIANS REFUSED BOKO HARAM LEADERS TO LEAD THEM.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahaha I no fit laff well. PDP is not good, APC is a muslim party, looooooolz. When I heard people defecting to APC, i shouted and told my people, how I wish APC would not welcome them bcos its a plot by the pdp to break APC, and the mumus fell for it. Ffk and others will soon go back to pdp but trying to dismantle d mumu APC first, by hiding under muslim/muslim presidential candidate. Haaaaa, bros we no dey gullible jare.
ReplyDeleteU guys should stop descriminating,A Muslim/Muslim ticket or a Christian/christain ticket I̶̲̥̅̊s̶̲̥̅̊ not all DAT matters nw. We need pple who can change d country 4 gud.ffk DAT I̶̲̥̅̊s̶̲̥̅̊ descriminating kan someone pls tell him 2 tell d general public wat he has done 2 his own community as a minister.so y shuld he b saying nonsense .we just nid someone DAT wld change Nigeria Dats all.
ReplyDeletePlease,we need Christian /Christian ticket. Since you feel there is nothing wrong then do the right thing.
DeleteWhy are u ppl so daft like this? Is this is the next thing for us to be talking abt right now, or their records. Ok which Muslim govt have not done something great for nig. But look @ what obasanjo & Jonathan did 2 nig. Are they Muslims, do they have good record to whoever wise and know what is going on in nig. And for those of u who said is Muslims party why did u joined them, why can't u join christened party. CHRISTEN don't distroyild this noble nations. A word is enough for the wise
ReplyDeleteBreak dis down pls
DeletePlease mention the muslim leaders that have done something great.Is it abacha,buhari or IBB? mumu
DeleteThe plain truth is that Nigerians can never and never vote for Muslim/Muslim Presidential candidates in any election in Nigeria if APC does not have Muslim/Christian candidates let them forget the election . APC we know is only good at talking but for the Presidential candidates we know they don`t have any because the ones they have , each and everyone of them has luggage .
ReplyDeletePDP IS WAITING THEM
ReplyDeleteAPC is finish
ReplyDelete3 things to consider
ReplyDelete1. My party APC should not play games with this sensitive issue of religion n try to reposition by the tricks of last per election merger between acn and cpc wwherepastor Tunde bakare was asked to sign his resignation letter before the election proper. Nigerians r not fools
2. The speculated flag bearers should hv better served as mentors and not aspirants at their age. This is an insult to the youths of this country. I known we hv younger n more competent people...find them
3. T
muslim/muslim ticket is against natural concience. And it's an absolute political inbalance.
ReplyDeleteWhoever said the two are competent to rule this nation. Please positive plus negative is equals to negative. If these two are presented, then be ready for the ruling party to continue
ReplyDeleteThere is more to it than muslim/muslim ticket.PLS we don't want to be impose with what is not in this country.Nigerian wake up,youths arise and take your positions.
ReplyDeleteGo and read TB Joshua Prophecy about APC
ReplyDeleteI dey laugh! Of course, I don't expect anything better as APC has succeeded in gathering all forms of self-seeking so-called politicians. Let's wait and see where all these ends.
ReplyDeleteIs Tinubu a good candidate for Nigeria? Leader of corruption nd selfish to d core. What has he done good or favour of d people in his 8years in office? A failure in Ondo State Election nd thief in Oil subsidy. What can he do better rathan than opposing good things in d Country to fulfilled his selfish ambition? APC will lose woefully if Tinubu is part of their candidates. Why Tinubu all d time? Let us be wise nd wake up.
ReplyDelete