As the 2023 Presidential election draws close, the argument against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presenting a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket has become rifer in the Nigerian political space.
Although the APC has submitted Ibrahim Masari’s name as its Vice Presidential candidate, there are strong indications that he is just a placeholder that would be replaced by the ‘real’ candidate.
According to sources within the APC who spoke to OduNews, the party is likely to present a Muslim-Muslim ticket considering the candidate’s zone has been restricted to Borno, Kano and Kaduna state respectively.
The party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, faces the upheaval task to choose a candidate that would reflect the religious diversity of the country.
This appears to be the first time in Nigeria’s election history that a presidential candidate will be caught in such a web. If Tinubu emerges as the President in 2023, he would be the first Southern Muslim to hold the position. The closest has been Moshood Abiola whose election was eventually annulled by the military regime led by Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda.
Although Muslims abound in the Southwest region, there are considerably few when viewed from the lens of the entire southern region. This appears to be the headache the APC has faced in picking its presidential running mate.
Tinubu needs to appeal to the majority of Muslim northerners in the region and would have easily made a political choice to choose a Muslim from the region. Nigeria’s present socio-political divide would however render that as insensitive. Religious leaders , especially Pastors, have been vocal against the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the ruling party, a step that has created more discussion around it.
Nigerians have continued to share their opinions on the issue via social media platforms. See some takes by Nigerians below:
Given the endless slaughter of Christians in Nigeria; of which Pastor Poju is assumed part of that community, knowing that Nigeria is fairing poorly in the Freedom of Religion index and knowing that APC intend to do a Muslim Muslim ticket, where is the sense in what he wrote.
— Igbani Rastafari (@EmekaIgbani) July 1, 2022
A northerner succeeding another northerner undermines Nigeria's unity but a Muslim/Muslim ticket that ignores Nigeria's diversity doesn't matter. It's confusing how when it comes to politics, people keep shifting the goalposts of rationality.
— Eniola Akinkuotu (@ENIBOY) June 22, 2022
I like the fact that our Pastor’s are beginning to speak up concerning the forthcoming general election. Every right thinking Nigerian must condemn the Muslim-Muslim ticket
| Agbado #AssuStrikeUpdate Port Harcourt Wike Segalink Oyetola Twyse May Tinubu #Ajah #PeterObi2023 Ruth | pic.twitter.com/VL7jglTneF
— Micheal (@Micheal_Osondu_) June 22, 2022
The same people who codemned several religion intolerance of the Northerners, the death of Deborah are the same people who are supporting Muslim/Muslim ticket because they want to buy more hardship time for Nigerians. Just imagine our level of hypocrisy.
— Africa~DoubleQ (WFH, WFP.) (@africa_doubleq) June 25, 2022
Muslim Muslim ticket would have been okay if Nigeria was one and everyone was carried along,but with our present Nigeria it would just be pure chaos.
— SLIMNAZI_DU-RAG🔌🌼 (@SlimNazi) July 1, 2022
Muslim-Muslim ticket: I thought about it deeply. The problem should be Northerner-Northerners ticket or Southerner Southerner ticket. That is the real divide not religion. Religion is a choice we make while geography & ethnicity is coincidental. Religion shouldn’t disqualify any1
— Bello Shagari (@Belshagy) June 29, 2022
Muslim Muslim? APC want to tell us that there is no competent christian from the North ? This agenda to Islamize Nigeria didn't start today, it has been there for a very long time but you know what? It's never gonna work not when the Youths are already out for you guys ..
— PETER OBI'S BIG MUSCLE 💪🇳🇬🇳🇬 (@Frankzybozzz) July 1, 2022
Pastor Poju and many other such preachers are not seeing anything wrong with APC's Muslim Muslim ticket and cannot speak against it and the immense prosecutions Christians are going through. For me, this has shown that he is an irredentist hiding under a Bible.
— Obidi Anagba (@AnagbaObidi) July 1, 2022
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