Adams Oshiomhole, an ex-Governor of Edo State and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress has weighed in on the controversy trailing the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket the ruling party is flying for the 2023 presidential election.
In an interview on TVC on Thursday July 14, Oshiomhole said Nigerians need to do away with primordial sentiments such as religion and ethnicity, and concentrate on competence and courage of candidates to save the country.
He also commended presidential candidate of the ruling party, Bola Tinubu for choosing former Governor of Borno state, Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
Oshiomhole said;
“The more opposition party joined the Muslim-Muslim debate, the more I’m satisfied that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s decision is right.
“We need courage. We have struggled to balance this religious issues in recent years. Tinubu’s decision shows that he will take bold step when elected.
“If the number of churches and mosques we have built over the years is equal to number of factories, we won’t be at this poverty level in the country.
“We can’t continue with business as usual. I’m satisfied with the quality of Shettima. He is well-read and well-exposed. He is well awarded both home and abroad.
“We should spend time interrogating the personality, competence of Tinubu’s nominee. Soon, pagans will organise themselves to say otherwise too.”
Oshiomhole who claimed that Tinubu/Shettima ticket is a “balanced ticket” for the party, also dismissed concerns over “islamization agenda” with the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
He added;
“It is a balanced ticket; balanced ticket in terms of competence, and their antecedents. The opposition party are threatened by this bold decision because they are sensing defeat.
“What are the fears of people making this comment? They are saying there are plans to islamise Nigerians. The candidate himself (Tinubu), has he islamised his own family members? His wife is a Christian and a pastor.
“Our presidential candidate is a happily married man. He has demonstrated religious tolerance by the fact that his own wife is practising her own faith. How can a man who allowed freedom of worship in his home Islamise the country?”
Also commenting on the lingering ASUU strike, Oshiomhole stated that having a Muslim president and a Christian vice president has not translated to anything.
He said;
“Despite a Muslim president and a Christian vice president, it hasn’t translated to anything.
“And right now, I think what should feature most in our political commentary is: what is the problem between ASUU and the federal government? Even as a former Labour leader, I am not sure I know all the detail.
“I can imagine the pains parents are going through. So, we don’t discuss these issues and we are discussing religion.
“Okay, as we speak, we have a balanced ticket (Muslim-Christian), where has it translated to?”
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