Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has berated the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, over his comments on the All Progressives Congress’ Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket for the 2023 general election.
Okowa in an event in Abuja on Tuesday described the APC’s decision to fly a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election as insensitive, saying it “is almost like going on to having the presidential candidate from the North and picking the vice-presidential candidate also from the North.”
Reacting via a statement on Wednesday, Fani-Kayode said the most dangerous threat to the peace and unity of Nigeria is not a Muslim/Muslim ticket but the “obstinate and irrational” insistence of keeping the Presidency in the North after the 8 years regime of President Muhammadu Buhari who hails from the northern region of the country.
The former minister stated that the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, allowed his family members to adhere to whichever faith they choose, adding that he (Tinubu) does not have an evil agenda against Christians in the country.
He said: “Even though those of us that stand with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima have gone to great lengths to explain to members of the Christian community that such a ticket will not in any way affect any of us, our faith or our fortunes given the benign disposition of the two, it is also of importance to point out that his principal, Waziri Atiku Abubakar, compelled two of his wives who were originally Christians to convert to the Muslim faith upon marriage whilst our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu, had the presence of mind and tolerance to allow his wife to not only remain a Christian but to also follow her calling as a Pastor.
“Asiwaju has also allowed his children to adhere to whichever faith they choose and most of them are Christian.
“Can such a man have an evil agenda against Christians? Can such a man seek to Islamise our country? Can such a man do or say anything to engender religious bigotry or intolerance in our nation? Surely not.
“Who between the duo of Waziri and Jagaban has shown more sensitivity to the Christian community and faith given these facts and circumstances?
READ ALSO: Fani-Kayode, Dino Melaye turn comedians in insulting skits
“Is it the one that compelled his two Christian wives to convert to Islam upon marriage or the one that allowed his Christian wife to remain a Christian and to even continue preaching the gospel of Jesus Chris, our Lord and Saviour?
“The truth is that the most dangerous threat to the peace and unity of our country is not a Muslim/Muslim ticket but the obstinate and irrational insistence of keeping the Presidency in the North and fielding yet another Fulani candidate from the core North after 8 years of Fulani rule under President Muhamadu Buhari,” he noted.
Fani-Kayode stated that the South must produce President Buhari’s successor, saying otherwise would be “insensitive, unreasonable, insulting, and unjust”.
He said the election of the next president from the North would present a serious challenge to the country’s national unity and stability.
The former minister added: “I am glad that it was the Northern Governors and leaders of the APC that made this point themselves and insisted on zoning our presidential ticket to the South.
“That speaks volumes for their sense of justice and fair play and once again I commend them for it.
“Without them and the insistence of their Southern Governor counterparts in the party it could never have happened.
“By way of contrast, the Northern leaders in the PDP and the majority of their Northern Governors, reneged on an earlier agreement with their Southern counterparts led by Governor Nyesome Wike, breached the rules of zoning in their own party constitution, rubbished the efforts of the majority of Southern Governors in their party and insisted on not only keeping the Presidency in the North but also the position of the party’s National Chairman as well.
READ ALSO: Akeredolu: North can’t retain power after Buhari’s tenure
“This is not only unprecedented but it is also unjust. It is pure wickedness.
“It is a massive and unwarranted humiliation and slap in the face of every Southerner in their party and that is what Wike, Governor Makinde, Governor Ugwuanyi, Governor Ortom, Governor Ikpeazu, and their supporters are struggling against.
“I commend them for this though, given the stubborn disposition and arrogant intransigence of their party’s National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu, their noble efforts may end up being thwarted,” he stated.
Fani-Kayode continued: “The APC has killed and buried the notion that Southerners are slaves whilst the PDP wants to resurrect it.
“It is left for each of us to make a choice between the two but my choice is for freedom and equality rather than bondage and slavery.
“If the little sacrifice we have to make and the price we have to pay for that is a Muslim/Muslim ticket in order to ensure victory then so be it.
“This is especially so given the fact that in the South-West where our candidate comes from we see religion as a personal issue and not a political one,” the former minister said.
- EFCC chair: How Yahaya Bello declined invitation for interrogation - April 23, 2024
- EFCC chairman: I’ll resign if Yahaya Bello is not prosecuted - April 23, 2024
- EFCC: Yahaya Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi account to pay child’s school fee - April 23, 2024
