By A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal has knocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) for fielding two Muslims as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
It would be recalled that on July 10, the APC presidential flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu announced Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 polls.
The choice of the former Borno State governor has since generated controversy, as many faulted the decision of the ruling party to settle for a Muslim-Muslim ticket despite initial criticisms against such move.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE TV on Thursday evening, Lawal said the same-faith ticket is a direct attack on Christians in the country.
The former SGF argued that the APC cannot say there are no competent Christians in the North that could have been chosen as Tinubu’s running mate.
“You will antagonise the Christian majority in this country. It’s a direct attack on them and even in your own zone, because when it comes to religion, Nigerians take religion first,” he said.
“Now, you jeoperdise the whole of the Christians in the North, in the South-South, in the South-East.”
Lawal also reacted to the defence put up by Tinubu and the APC that Shettima was chosen because of his “competence”.
He said, “If it is based on competence, Tinubu, who has one degree in business administration, cannot beat professor Osinbajo. So, competence in what? Who examines this competence? Is it an exam?
“So, in any case, maybe given that Shettima is the most competent person from the north, which exam did he take?
“Islam preaches justice. Why can’t they see this? No Muslim would want to live in acrimonious relationship with his neighbour.”
