By Emmanuel Uffot
Ahead, the 2023 Presidential election which has seen the emergence of Presidential flagbearers of key political parties like the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, the major opposition the Peoples Democratic Party, APC and the new kid in the block, the Labour Party whose candidates are Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi respectively, the choice of the running mates of the trio has not come so smooth without rancour. Whereas, PDP was able to unveil a substantive running mate for Atiku before the July 17 deadline fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) the same could not be said of APC and Labour Party. Both nominated proxies in what they termed placed holders just to meet the deadline, before they eventually nominated substantive running mates for their flagbearers.
However, the choice of the running mate of the APC Presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is currently generating outburst across the country especially within the South and the Christian faith in general.
It could be recalled that after a lot of speculations, Tinubu finally confirmed the rumour that was going round that he is favourably disposed to picking a Muslim from the North as his running mate when he unveiled former governor of Borno State Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate. The fact that Tinubu is a Muslim and Shettima is also a Muslim is what has reverberated the ongoing controversy tagged Muslim-Muslim ticket.
While the Governors elect on APC, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker House of Representatives Femi Ggbajabiamila and some party big wigs are not opposed to the choice, the opposition to the choice of Shettima has expectedly been pronounced among the Christians across the country including even party members. Many have accused him (Tinubu) and his party of promoting the politics of exclusion and discrimination against Christians.
Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano state governor and Mai Buni his Yobe state counterpart and former National Working Committee, (NWC) interim chairman of APC, believes the combination will ensure victory for the party in 2023.
But the condemnation has been over whelming and may have boxed the ruling party into a corner and apparently giving the leaders of the party sleepless nights as the controversy rages.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the umbrella body of Christians has condemned in strong terms the APC Muslim -Muslim ticket. The body said it is left for Nigerians to reject APC. Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant Media to CAN President said the situation in Nigeria now is not suitable for Muslim-Muslim ticket “The Christian Association of Nigeria has stated it clearly that the situation in the country now is not suitable for a Muslim -Muslim ticket. It is up to Nigerians to accept or reject. Today’s Nigeria is not the same as when Nigerians voted Abiola-Kingibe ticket which was eventually annulled”.
Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Chairman Edwin Clark said he would have supported APC candidate given its choice of a Southerner as presidential flagbearer but for choosing another Muslim as running mate, he has withdrawn such support because the decision by the ruling party is a threat to the country’s unity and well-being.
Clark wondered If Tinubu’s choice of a Muslim running mate is not a pointer and confirmation of the Islamisation agenda of the country. He asked whether Tinubu was trying to tell Nigerians that there was no competent Christian in the North. “There is presently a sharp division in the country even on religious lines and all patriots are seeking ways to salvage the situation. Therefore, Tinubu’s decision to take a fellow Muslim as his running mate will further worsen the situation in the country. It is an illusion to think that except one is from the North, you will not win election. So, the idea that unless you come from the North or you are a Muslim, you cannot win election should be jettison by proponents of such an idea. About 40 percent or more of Nigerians are Christians. Yet a group of persons want to sideline and exclude them from the affairs of the country, this is not possible”.
The Bishop of Anglican Communion, Calabar Diocese, Rt. Rev Nneoji Egbe said CAN as a body will never accept such a contraption given the place of religion in Nigeria being a secular state.
Egbe “We absolutely do not, and will not and cannot accept a Muslim-Muslim or Christian- Christian ticket. Nigeria’s secularity must be respected by our leaders, everybody must have a sense of belonging”.
Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under President Buhari and a Chieftain of APC is also against Shettima choice. He described the burning issue as a disastrous error. He said it is in the nature of power that sycophants and lapdogs have the most influence on leaders with such character traits. He opined that Tinubu has been cornered by self-serving lapdogs and said the Muslim-Muslim ticket is dead on arrival. “He has been cornered by self-serving, hero-worshipping lapdogs. It never used to be like this. While in his hay-days in Lagos, he surrounded himself with smart, street-wise guys that could tell the truth to power. The Lagos days were the days of think-thanks, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, principles and ideologies. But these people have since grown-up and moved up to establish their own systems living my friend stranded with the Abuja people inflicted with Nigeria modern diseases of religious bigotry, sycophancy and morbid tribalism”.
Segun Showunmi, PDP chieftain and an aide to Atiku said this act by Tinubu is an indication to how his party hates Nigeria. He however maintained that instead of lamenting over the choice of former Borno state governor and sitting senator Shettima as the APC Vice-Presidential Candidate, it behooves on Nigerians to make sure the ruling party pay for the consequences of their lack of thoughtfulness.
He said anyone that pretends to realise that Nigeria is deeply divided not only by ethnic lines now than before, but by religion is not been sincere. “A nation that is divided between the major faiths of Christianity and Islam must work very hard not to give the impression that the sensitivity to diversity does not exist. Shall we now assume that the APC intends to play only to the numbers advantage without care for national unity and harmony by their share insensitivity to what’s going on in the country”.
Similarly, Osondu Ihierika, a public affairs analysts believes the reason this choice by the APC Presidential flagbearer of a Muslim to join him on the ticket is generating so much fuse in the country now was because Nigeria is now more divided due to the nepotistic tendencies of President Buhari both in appointments and turning blind eye to the killing of Christians in some parts of the country by Fulani herdsmen, bandits and terror groups without any known arrests and prosecution of culprits. “The killing of Christians under a ruler seen by many Christians as a Muslim fundamentalist persecuting the Christians in his policies, actions and inactions are majorly why this Muslim- Muslim ticket of APC is generating loud condemnation”. He wondered if religion was not an issue, why then did Buhari picked Osibanjo, a Christian in 2015”. He said it was because he did not want to hurt the sensibilities of the Christians and questions what has changed now. Beyond picking a Muslim, he questioned why it should be one with a negative baggage hanging on his neck.
“Again, if you want to go for a Muslim, why do you go for somebody whose image has been dented by the Boko Haram abduction of Chibok girls. He with Buhari are known to have said that the fight against Boko Haram is a fight against the Northern Muslim. He should have gone for a person not seen to have had link with Boko Haram”. Those who share this sentiment against Shettima as a choice, points to a Boko Haram suspect Kabiru Sokoto the alleged master minder of the Abuja bombing whom upon arrest was known to have had a cordial link with the former Borno state governor, now running mate to Tinubu.
Ihierika argued that though religion is not indicated as a violation of the Section 14 (3) of Nigeria Constitution under Federal Character, but the coincidence that most of the people holding key positions are from the Northern extraction and Muslims, is what has fueled people objection to the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“Why the hue and cry from many and what has raised concerns on this are because of the failure of President Buhari government’s lack of good governance, nepotism, bad economy, insurgency, insensitivity”.
Barrister Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN said it is a terrible choice in one million ways. He said Nigerians whether Muslims, Christians and traditionalists should reject APC votes in 2023.
He said a Muslim- Muslim ticket in present day Nigeria will embolden the Boko Haram, ISWAP and a call for more terrorists’ attacks on Christians.
Dare Atoye, Executive Director Adopt Goal Initiative is of the opinion that it will lead to the decimation of Christians when North returns to power in 2031.
Simon Kolawole piece in ThisDay June 18, 2022 titled: The Awkward Muslim-Muslim ticket. Painted a picture of the subsistence strict respect to the secular nature of the country in considering religious faith in nominating persons into key political positions which the Tinubu Muslim- Muslim ticket tries to jettison in sharp contract with what President Buhari and his party APC is prosecuting now.
“Under Shehu Shagari, Shagari Muslim/Fulani, Senate President Joe Wayas, Speaker House of Representatives Edwin Ume Ezeoko and all service chiefs were Christians.
Even Femi Fani- Kayode, a former Aviation Minister and chieftain of PDP now in APC has also kicked against the Muslim- Muslim ticket which he stressed is not acceptable to him.
But Rev. Fr. John Aluoma, Catholic Priest of Abuja Arch-Diocese does not want to join with those lamenting over the single religion ticket. He instead says Nigerians who are worried about the Muslim- Muslim ticket are not ready to make an informed choice in the forthcoming election. “I don’t understand why some persons are scared about it, however, I refuse to validate or consolidate that fear. APC is just one party; we have other parties in Nigeria. Crying over APC’s candidates in the midst of other candidates questions our readiness to change the status quo or our capacity to make and accept informed decisions”.
Eseme Eyibo, former member Representing Eket Federal Constituency under PDP in Akwa Ibom State now re-contesting that same position as APC candidate, said the many challenges plaguing the country now like insecurity, poverty and dwindling economic fortunes has no religious colouration. He believes what should concern Nigerians more is good leadership and not religious consideration.
The anti-Muslim- Muslim ticket proponents insist that, it was that prevailing underlining factor to respect religious balance that led to Tinubu’s bid in 2015 to be Buhari’s running mate rejected by APC stakeholders in favour of Osibanjo. They also point to the political equation in Lagos state since the dawn of the current democratic dispensation in 1999 where it became an unwritten law that the Governor and deputy must emerged from both Christians from Muslims. For instance, Tinubu a Muslim, had Kofo Bucknor -Akerele, Dr Femi Pedro and Abiodun Ogunleye all Christians as his deputies during his two terms. His successors Babatunde Raji Fashola also a Muslim had Mrs Sarah Sosan and Mrs Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire both Christians as his deputies while Akinwumi Ambode, a Christian who succeeded Fashola had Hajia Olaranti Adebule, a Muslim as his deputy. The trend has continued as current Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who is a Christian has a Muslim deputy in person of Femi Hamzat as his deputy.
However, some sections of APC leaders and Tinubu’s camp who see nothing wrong in the Muslim- Muslim ticket have drawn inference from previous joint tickets of people from the same religious faith in the past which did not raise any dust.
In the military era they point to Buhari/ Idiagbon- Muslim- Muslim, Generals Gowon/ Adewale- Christian-Christian while in democratic era they gave instances, as Chief Obafemi Awolowo of Unity Party of Nigeria a Christian from Ogun state picked Philip Umeadi, a fellow Christian from then Enugu and now Anambra as his running mate. Again, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria Peoples Party picked Dr Ishaya Audu from Southern Kaduna, a Christian as his running mate in 1979. Proponents of the justification of same religion joint presidential ticket easily refer to the MKO/ Babagana Kingibe Muslim- Muslim in1993 and even Nihu Ribadu/ Fola Adeola both Muslims tickets in 2011.
But those against this line of arguments have pooh-pooh it, stressing that not only times have change, but the nepotistic tendencies of President Buhari both in appointments, actions and policies have further deepened the prevalent gulf in the country which has necessitated the outburst against same religion ticket.
They recalled that during his swearing in 2015, President Buhari declared that ‘he is not for anybody but for everybody’ but his appointments since his election seems to have thrown aboard this declaration.
Before the change in service chiefs last year, all except the Chief of Naval staff were Muslims. So also, Director Generals of State Security Service (SSS), National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, National Intelligence Agency (DIA), Head Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), Comptroller General of Nigeria Custom Service, Comptroller General of Nigeria Correctional Service, Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Commandant General Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,(NDLEA), Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Minister of Defence and heads of other key Federal Government parastatals like Nigeria Port Authority and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation were not only from the North but Muslims.
Even the new composition of the new Service Chiefs appointed last year is still frowned by critics as favouring Northern Muslims. For instance, the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Inspector General of Police are Muslims from the North which Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Air Staff are Christians from the South.
Infact, the composition of the key four principal hierarchical offices under the current government of President Buhari has come under criticism as favouring more Muslims as against previous practice of balancing the positions.
President Buhari-Muslim, Vice- President Yemi Osibanjo-Christian, Senate President Ahmed Lawan- Muslim, Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila -Muslim and before his resignation recently, Chief Justice of the Federation Tanko Mohammed was also a Muslim.
In 2018, former president Obasanjo wrote an open letter to Buhari advising him not to seek re-election because of his nepotistic deployment bothering on ‘clannishness’.
Again, Col. Abubakar Umar rtd, former Military governor of Kaduna had then stated in his own open letter that Buhari nepotism could tear Nigeria apart.
In June 2020, some Southern leaders had dragged President Buhari before an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court over alleged marginalization in appointments made by his administration in 2015.
Their grouse for litigation had to do with composition of the government of the federation, agencies especially composition of the security and quasi-security architecture do not reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria rather was lopsided with predominance of persons from a few states and sectional groups dominating the opportunities and threatening national unity and integration.
These lopsided appointments since coming to power in 2015 by the President which are not only favouring the North but specifically Muslims, is seen to have further widened the already prevalent division between the North and South in one hand and Christians and Muslims in another hand. This, analysts maintained is the major reason for the unprecedented opposition from many quarters against the APC Muslim/Muslim joint presidential ticket.
Moreover, as emphasised by Ihierika, the antecedents of Shettima in the eyes of Christians as a hardliner in the mold of a Muslim fanatic has not helped to project him as an acceptable Vice-Presidential candidate among Christians across the six- geopolitical zones in Nigeria. His role in the Chibok girls abduction saga after failing to take any action on the security report about an intending Boko Haram attack, his comment that attack on Boko Haram members by former President Goodluck Jonathan government was an attack on Moslems, his link with a notorious Boko Haram kingpin Kabiru Sokoto now serving life jail and his uncomplimentary remark on the Vice- President Osibanjo while contesting for presidential ticket in the last APC national convention may have fueled the condemnation of his choice in particular apart from being a Muslim like Tinubu. Recalled that Shettima was quoted saying of Osinbajo’s candidacy, that “Osibanjo is a nice man who should be selling ice cream and not contesting for president”. This uncomplimentary remark according sources close to the Vice-President is still fresh in the minds of his supporters, close associates, admirers and many Christians.
Sources further revealed that, the choice of Shettima is said to have angered vice -president Prof Osibanjo whose cordiality with Tinubu was apparently given a dent by his decision to contest for the president when Tinubu his supposed god father was in the race. He is said to have earlier warned of that when speculations were rife. He is said to have explained to Tinubu that a Muslim -Muslim ticket will isolate the Christians. Infact, reports going round currently is that the Vice-President is very uncomfortable with the development and will not be favourably disposed to lending his unalloyed support to the presidential project. The speculation went further that he is contemplating resigning from APC. But his media aide Laolu Akande has dismissed as false the speculation that his principal wants to resign from APC because of the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue.
Again, emerging facts have revealed that the choice of Shettima was as a result of intensive pressure from APC governors from the Northern extraction to pick one of their own as running mate. Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno and El-Rufai were said to be among the nominees but Tinubu insisted on Shettima.
But inspite of the furore over Tinibu’s choice of Shettima, he has justified it thus “To re-envision and reshape the nation, I must compose the best team possible, a team put together with one overriding purpose, to establish a just, capable and compassionate governance for the people of Nigeria without regard to regard to religion, region or ethnic origin”.
He described Shettima as a man “with the talent, maturity, competent, strength of character and patriotism.”. Other reasons for his choice of the former governor of Borno State are said not to be unconnected with the fact that the latter was a major player in Tinubu’s emergence as APC flagbearer being the director of his campaign organisation. Both men have good relationship. His educational, administrative and political credentials is said to have enticed him to Tinubu given the perceived electoral values of those available for him to pick from.
Shettima holds a Bsc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Maiduguri and MSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan. He has worked as a banker, served as a commissioner five times in different ministries, governor for eight years and a sitting one term senator.
The direct fallout of raging controversy over the APC Muslim- Muslim ticket has manifested in the resignation of some members of the party from the South. Some of them include,
Daniel Bwala, legal aide to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, deputy Senate president and governorship candidate of APC in Deltaand Senator Elisha Abbo, Adamawa North who resigned his membership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation. Actor Kenneth Okonkwo, an APC chieftain has resigned, Tonye Princewill close associate of Rotimi Amaechi and Air- Vice Marshal Frank Ajobena rtd, former military administrator of Delta State Air -Vice Marshal Frank Ajobena have all resigned. Similarly, Chidi Wihioke, former member Representing Ikwere/Emohua Federal Constituency who is a staunch loyalist of Magnus Abe as well as Sam Eligwe, a state lawmaker from Ahoada West Local Government Area in Rivers State have all resigned though they attributed their resignation to injustice in the administration of APC in River State.
Indeed, indications that the condemnation of the Muslim/Muslim ticket by APC is causing serious concern with the party unfolded when the scheduled unveiling of Shettima as the running mate to Tinubu earlier slated for Thursday July 14, 2022 was hurriedly postponed for a week without prior notice. That postponement many believe was not unconnected with the internal discontent currently brewing in the party, given the disposition of some camps within the party to push for a replacement of Shettima but which Tinubu’s camp insisted they would never buy into such.
Although Tinubu with ahead to push for the unveiling of his running mate, this has not submerged the fact of a growing crisis within the party over the vexed Muslim-Muslim on one hand and the attitude of the flagbearer before his emergence and his choice in another. This perceived discontent within the ranks of APC may have manifested with the boycott of many APC governors to the ceremony.
The event was boycotted by 10 out of the 17 APC governors most of them from the South- South and South- East as well as party big wigs from the two zones. Similarly President Buhari and Vice- President Yemi Osibanjo were not also in attendance at the unveiling of Shettima which is supposed to be a very big party event.
Apart from the Muslim- Muslim ticket issue which is believed to have been one of the primary reasons why these governors boycotted the event, sources revealed that members of the party from South- South and South -East are not happy with Tinubu for not deeming it fit to take his consultations to the two regions whereas he toured almost all the Northern and South West states. They see this as a flagrant disregard which they interpret to mean that their votes do not count that votes from the areas are not important.
Another issue that has thrown more spanner into the candidacy of Tinubu is the alleged hiring of supposed Bishops to attend the event in a bid to score cheap political point that Christian clerics support the Muslim- Muslim project of Tinubu/APC.
This development which has become a matter of public discourse and concern over why the organizer should stoop so low to go to such extent to hire impostors as Bishops has further dented the image of Tinubu and APC in the eyes of many Nigerians and even those that would have supported him. The fact that CAN has come out to disown those perceived Bishops and equally challenged the organisers to name the Bishops and respective parishes without response, has given meat to the allegation that those that attended the ceremony on clergy robes were actually hired impostors.
Till date that controversy that APC and Tinubu hired imposters to impersonate Bishops is yet to subside. This development has further created more image problem to the fortunes of Tinubu and APC in their 2023 presidential project.
Again, what is said to have further deepened the concern of the party and the camp of Tinubu in particular ahead of the 2023 presidential election is the recent defeat of Governor Gboyega Oyetola by the PDP candidate Senator Ademola Adeleke in Osun governorship election. This defeat is seen as a big blow to the party considering the fact that prominent members of the APC in the South West including Tinubu and the Minister of Interior and former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbosola are from Osun State. Moreso, the defeated governor is Tinubu’s cousin. For political pundits and even APC state and national hierarchy, the mere fact that the PDP candidate was still able to overcome the might of the PDP with Tinubu as the arrow head, is a bad omen for the party ahead next year election given the fact that Osun state is a strong hold of the ruling party in the South West. The victory of PDP in Osun brings to two, states in the South-West under the opposition while it depletes APC states in the zone to four from five.
To cap it all, the increasing insecurity which has dove-tailed into the Federal Capital with the invasion of Kuje prisons, the attack and killing of personnel of Brigade of Guards in Bwari Abuja which led to the closing down of many schools in Abuja has further pierced a big hole on the electoral prowess of the party ahead next year.
The ever growing insecurity in the country which has now enveloped Abuja the seat of government, and the attitude of President in always jetting out while the country is ‘burning’ is seen by concern Nigerians as a mark of grave non-challant attitude.
For political analysts and followers, all these troubles of APC which is worsening by the day few months to the general election, may impact negatively on the fortunes of the party in the election.
