TheNewsGuru

Knocks, indifference in Kogi, Abuja over APC Muslim – Muslim ticket

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The raging discussion and controversies among Nigerians about the decision of the ruling APC to field two Muslims as Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates have continued with many respondents interviewed in both Abuja and Kogi stating their dismay, while others remain indifferent to the decision. Few APC loyalists however justified the pairing.

A political commentator, Samuel Obadiah told TheNewsGuru that the decision was not thought through by the APC, saying it was a dead combination which has isolated the opinion of Christians in the country.

To him, “What this means is that the APC does not respect how the christians feel. They feel a religious balance would not have any impact on the outcome of the polls in a secular but religiously sensitive environment that we have found ourselves.”

He said the party should have scanned through the North before arriving at the decision because, “Regional balance is as important as religious balance. I don’t think any right thinking christian would vote for the ruling party, considering their record since they took over power.

“Are you telling me there are no christian politicians that would help pacify the already tense christian population in the region? Of course there are. It is just an attempt to circumvent them.”

On her part, Njideka Onwonwu who is a Civil Society Activist said the nation is already teetering towards division and that there was no need to continue to beat the drum of division or emphasizing factors that further set the people against each other.

According to her, it does not matter if a political party decides to pair two Christians or Muslims, as long as they can sustain the peace and improve the social and economic well being of the people while providing accountable, transparent and corruption – free government.

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“I have always been interested in who would speak about lack of ability to deliver the democratic goods to the citizens since these whole argument began about Muslim – Muslim and whatnot,” she said.

“What an average Nigerian needs now is good governance. A government that can create opportunities for citizens to live in peace, have access to quality education, provide infrastructure and make life comfortable.

“The noise about religion and belief system of candidates is to me, a distraction. Whether they are idol worshippers, atheists, and whatnot, should be of little significance, compared to the task of getting the country working again.

“Nigeria’s worsening insecurity is not making the people to want evolve a national discuss that would address the issue head-on. It is sad that people have become disillusioned with the situation. In the face of alarming poverty, people are paying through their noses to free their kidnapped loved ones. Some of these things go unreported with, in fact, security agencies not wanting many of the hush payments to come to public knowledge.

“I think it is the religious leaders feeding fat on the people’s ignorance that are instigating the public to overblow the issue of Muslim – Muslim ticket. It should not be this much of an issue, as far as I am concerned.”

Joseph Akwu on the other hand, thinks that Nigeria would gain more with the experience sof the APC candidates, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

Mr Akwu noted that the duo have a combined 16 years experience between them as Governors having served eight years each as Lagos and Borno State Governors.

To that effect, he said Tinubu understands the complexities of the south and that Shettima understands the North very well, hence the belief they are a combination capable of taking the country to a great height.

Sunday Dada does not care, he said the only thing that would give him joy would be for him to see a leader that would begin to change situation across the country for the better.

Umar Yahuza, John Usman, Shuaibu Audu, Mohammed Abubakar and others also spoke on the issue and said they would pray for it if that would be best for the country and that they would also pray against it if at the end, it would be a disaster.

Shuaibu Audu, in particular, told our reporter, “Do you know what the country has been through in the last couple of years? What we need now is prayers for the Almighty God to select the best leader for us, not some issue about the religion they practice.”