2023: Threat to Tinubu’s presidential ambition as Christians in 19 northern states withdraw support

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) might have encountered a major obstacle as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 Northern states, including Abuja has decided to withdraw its support.

In a statement issued on 31 July 2022 in Kaduna State, the Secretary-General of the CAN, Sunday Oibe restated the organization’s disapproval of the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC. CAN stated that Nigeria has never been polarized along religious and ethnic lines.

CAN’s statement further reinforces the general opinion of Christians who disapproves a Mulslim – Muslim ticket of the APC because it is considered not to be in harmony with the principles of equity, fairness and justice, especially in a plural society like Nigeria.

Several APC Christian stalwarts have been speaking against the party’s Muslim – Muslim presidential ticket as being not only divisive, but an act of injustice that must be resisted by all patriotic Nigerians. At the forefront of this crusade are Yakubu Dogara (a former Speaker of the House of Representatives) and Babachir Lawal (a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation).

Nigeria is at a precarious crossroad, if a vital matter like religion is not appropriately balanced to reflect the interest of all parties in the country.

Several elder statesmen, concerned party stakeholders, the Christian community and several Nigerians have warned against the proposal of a Muslim – Muslim ticket mainly because it will pose a serious threat to the secularity of the country.

Several APC chieftains have suggested that religion should not take precedence when considering the issue of a joint ticket. Such a position has obviously failed to douse the palpable fear in many quarters that such an arrangement could be a grand plan to fast-track the much-touted Islamisation of Nigeria.

While the APC’s Muslim – Muslim joint ticket might be a bobby trap for Tinubu’s presidential ambition, what is certain is that this arrangement is a carefully orchestrated political permutation aimed at raking in massive votes from the Muslim-dominated North East and North West to coast Asiwaju and Shettima to victory.