By Ajibola Olarinoye
After so much hullabaloo that had been generated about the possibility of fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress APC for the 2023 general election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu recently officially announced Senator Ibrahim Shettima, a fellow Muslim as his running mate.
Tinubu made the announcement when he paid a Sallah homage to President Mohammadu Buhari in his Daura, home, Katsina State for the celebration.
Explaining why he finally opted for a core Muslim from the north, despite the pluralist nature of the Nigeria and despite the concern raised by many stakeholders, Tinubu said that he took the decision because the former Governor of Borno State is competent and reliable.
Dismissing the anxiety of a religious bias, the presidential candidate said that the myriad of challenges bedeviling the country calls for competent and reliable hands, which according to him, should not be mixed with religious sentiments.
According to the political gladiator, he decided to based the selection of his running mate on merit instead of satisfying a particular religion or ethnic.
He added that he decided to settle on Shettima because he believes that the ex-Governor of Borno has the political will that would aid him in giving Nigeria a facelift in the face of plethora of challenges the country is laced with, calling on Nigerians to focus on good governance and not to be blinkered by religious or ethnic issues.
Tinubu said: “I made this choice because I believe this is the man who can help me bring the best governance to all Nigerians, period, regardless of their religious affiliation or considerations of ethnicity or region.”
“if we truly understand the challenges upon us a nation, then, we must also see the imperative of placing competence in governance above religious sentiment.”
Since the announcement was made, as expected,, barrage of criticisms and condemnations have filled the media spaces, even from some Muslims.
Although, some people are saying that there is nothing wrong in it, noting that the ability to deliver is what Nigeria currently needs from its leaders. However, it has been observed that the degree of criticisms is higher..
Those who are opposed to the step see the action by Tinubu as an act of injustice against the millions of Christians in Nigeria, and a country where religion has formed an integral way of lives of the populace.
The opponents of Muslim-Muslim ticket are of the opinion that the action by Tinubu and the APC is very insensitive as it is going to ratchet up the already hightened tensions following the attacks on churches and christian community in some parts of Nigeria by suspected religious extremists.
One of the most vociferous groups that have taken a stand against the step is the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.
Expressing the displeasure of the christian association on the matter, the Assistant Secretary General of CAN, Elder Abiodun Sanyaolu did not mince words to state that the association would never shift its ground in opposing the same faith ticket in a multi-religious country like Nigeria
The association hinged its opposition to such move on the alleged deep-rooted mistrust that has been happening between the two major religions for some years, noting that having a President and Vice President of the same faith is a very dangerous move that is highly inimical to the corporate existence of the country, most especially at this period the country finds itself.
The Assistant Scribe of CAN said that the association has made its position known that Muslim-Muslim ticket will not be supported, even Christian-Christian ticket either.
“It is not about Muslim-Muslim ticket or Christian-Christian ticket it is the mistrust existing in us for the last seven years which have been so terrible even with Nigeria inter-Religious Council, NIREC.
Also calling out the ruling party on the issue, the Secretary General of northern CAN, Sunday Obey said that the body of Christ would not lose sleep on this situation, adding that there are other political parties that are available to choose from.
This statement made by the scribe means that the association may mobilize the christians against voting for a party that they believe it doesn’t consider the interests of the christian community. By saying that CAN would “not lose sleep” implies that the Christian body would not keep quiet on the matter. So, if they are talking on the matter, what will they be saying?
In an interview with newsmen, Obe was quoted saying: “As an organisation, we are not losing sleep over the decision of a political party which has no regard for our diversity and the ethno-religious tensions threatening our fragile peace and existence as a country,” Oibe said.
“As a Christian leader, I will not support Christian-Christian ticket. I have many of my Muslims friends who are opposed to Muslim-Muslim ticket.
He added any political leader or political party who doesn’t have respect for the diversity of the country does not worth it.
He noted that the issue of competence raised by the camp of Tinubu and APC does not hold any water and not tenable because there are qualified and competent elements in every ethnic and religion.
The scribe also sounded a note of warning to Tinubu to stop making reference to the Third Republic of 1993 where the system of the Social Democratic Party, SDP produced MKO Abiola and Kingibe who are both Muslims, claiming that the situations of that period is sharply different from what is on ground now.
“The situation of things during the Abiola/Kingibe Muslim-Muslim ticket in 1993 is not the same with the current realities on the ground today. It will be naive for anybody to think Nigeria is still the same as it was in 1993,” he said.
Despite the fact it is Muslim-Muslim ticket , some Muslims have also expressed their concern on such a situation in a highly religious and pluralist country estimated to have more than 200 population. One of such Muslims are the ex- Special Adviser to the Governor of Kaduna State on Islamic Matters and Hajj, Sheikh Haliru Abdullahi Maraya
The Islamic scholar lambasted the apostles of same faith ticket, noting that those set of people are extremely wicked, because they don’t have a good mindset towards the country. He based his argument on the fact that Nigeria polity is volatile because it appears that the country is sharply polarized among religious and ethic lines.
He also supported the arguments put forward by CAN, by saying that every religion has list of qualified people who have the capacity to serve as running mates to presidential candidate, if merit is to be used as the yardstick.
He added that he is afraid of what would become the fate of the country if the different agitations on the land takes a religious dimension.
He added: “I don’t think there is a Muslim who will support a Christian-Christian presidential ticket. Undoubtedly, the Muslims would cry out for the perpetration of injustice against them. Hence, it’s wrong for a Muslim to support a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as it is at variance with the spirit of justice which the religion of Islam promotes and defends at all times.”
By digging into the memory lane, this is not the first time that individuals of the same faith would hold or be jostling to hold leadership positions together, and at that period, the matters didn’t generate arguments controversies or rifts, so why now?
For instance, when General Yakubu Gowon (a Christian from the north central) was the military Head of State from 1966-1975, the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters( de-facto Vice President) between 1973-1975, Rear-Admiral Joseph Edet Wey, was also Christian like his principal, Gowon.
Also, during the same period of Gen Gowon, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (a Christian) was the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council, a council headed by General Gowon. Awolowo was the Federal Commissioner for Finance them. He held the position until he resigned on June 13 1971.
During the 1979 presidential election, Awolowo, the Presidential candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN picked a fellow Christian running mate, Phillip Umeadi. Also, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who was the presidential candidate during the period picked a fellow Christian, Professor Ishaya Audu as his running mate under the platform of the Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP
Also, during the period of Gen Muhammadu Buhari as the Head of State between 1984 to August 27,1985, his number two man, Maj Gen Tunde Idiagbon , was a Muslim like him.
During the period of 1993 presidential election, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party SDP, MKO Abiola, who was a Muslim picked a fellow Muslim, Babagana Kingibe as his running mate. Despite the fact that SDP fielded a Muslim-Muslim ticket, Christian community voted for them massively. Secondly, despite being a Muslim–Muslim ticket, it was adjudged as the freest and fairest election in the history of Nigeria.
So, since the issue of religion did not create chaos at that time, so why this period?
Many are of the opinion that one cannot compare the political terrain of that period to this time because a lot of events have unfolded which have reshaped the socio-political culture and mentality of the populace.
One of the fundamentals factors that have reshaped the political landscape is the issues of Sharia law and the 1999 Constitution.
For instance, section 10 of the constitution declares Nigeria as a secular state by stating that , “The government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as state religion”.
The same constitution, indirectly, contradicts itself in the Section 275 by making provision for the creation of states Sharia courts of appeal and Section 280 which allows the states to create Sharia customary courts of appeal. The same constitution which states that Nigeria should be treated as a secular country overtly gives recognition for Islam and Muslims in its provisions while there is no single mention of Christianity or any other religion!
Some states in the north have implemented the Sharia legal system in their state, in which some Christians still believe that the reasons for the implementations of Sharia have sinister and political motives. It will be recalled that hundreds of people died in Kaduna in the year 2000 as a result of massive riots that erupted between the Christians and the Muslims following the implementation of the Sharia law in the state.
So, there is still this fear among the Christian community about the inclusion of Sharia law in the constitution.
Remember also that there is still this anxiety in some Christians about the shouts of “Islamization Agenda”. Although, possiblity of such agenda has been dismissed by some quarters, most especially the government, saying that such mentality is just an imaginary fear that can never be real. However, whether the move is fact or fiction, the fear is real.
Also, it should be noted that there have been series of deadly attacks on churches and some christian communities in the recent days. Although, the Federal Ministry of Information has said that the attackers are purely terrorists and extremists who attack people irrespective of their religion or ethnic.
So, that is why many people are worried that a Muslim–Muslim ticket is not healthy in such an atmosphere of fear and anxiety, saying that it may be a precipe for religious tensions and chaos in a polity that is in a precarious state already.
However, the camp of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is of the opinion that the Muslim-Muslim ticket presented by the ruling party would start bubbling under the radar when the electorate begin to get informed about the quality and unique leadership Tinubu/Shettima ticket wants to offer them.
Speaking on the religious aspect, the camp cited the religious liberalism of Bola Tinubu whose wife is a senior Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The camp is saying that Tinubu and Shettima are well known for liberalism, and that they are not religious fundamentalists, justifying that the duo had robust relationships with the Christian community while they were Governors and up till now.
Speaking, the National Deputy Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress APC, Murtala Ajaka said that anyone one who has the thirst for quality governance for Nigeria and wants the country to be lifted from the dungeon of underdevelopment should not be carried away by the sentiments of religion and tribe.
He added : “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima are not religious fundamentalists or ultra Muslims, their records in public offices are testimonies to rely on.
“As a two-term governor in Borno State, Shettima enjoyed the support of the Christian community throughout his tenure. ‘In fact, the Borno chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, testified that ‘In the history of Borno State, there is no governor that has been fair to the Christian community as much as Governor Kashim Shettima’.”
According to him, the former Governor of Borno State has great regards and respect for the Christian faith, saying that he sponsored many Christians for pilgrimage while he was the Governor.
Also justifying the choice of Tinubu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Oba Maduabuchi, SAN, who is a Christian said that it would be unfair to cast aspersion on Tinubu, because the APC National Leader was compelled to settle for a Muslim running mate considering the prevailing political circumstances of Nigeria.
He said: “So, if Tinubu being a Southern Muslim decides to pick a Christian from the North and his running mate, he will loose the election because the North is predominantly Muslim.
” If you exclude the Northern Muslim in the electoral equation, how many votes do you think he will get from the North? So, it is the circumstances of Nigerian polity that make it compelling that he must pick a Northern presidential candidate.
“Can you imagine a Christian presidential candidate from the North picking a Muslim from the South as his running mate.
He added that if such candidate picks a Christian presidential candidate from the North, he would be compelled to pick a Christian from the South because he cannot exclude the entire South- South; South-East and South-West..
Also speaking, on the development, a veteran journalist who is also the publisher of Digest Magazine, Prince Henry Ojoye said that he personally knows Shettima as a detrabilized Nigerian who has chain of Christian and Muslim-Muslim friends that cut across different ethnic groups in the country.
According to him, having such a man who is not a religious fanatics and fundamentalist in the position of national leadership of the country would not pose any threat whatsoever to non-Muslims
He claimed that the former Borno Governor has no affinity with any religious fanatism, adding he is also a leader who always listens to his subjects, unlike many African leaders who have the “boss mentality”.
He described Tinubu and Shettima as Muslims who have liberal minds towards everybody, no matter an individual religion, creed or ethnic.
Ajibola Olarinoye is a staff correspondent with theadvocate.ng
