By Professor J. O. Olaleru, a lecturer in the Mathematics Department of the University of Lagos, has urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) not to fall into the trap of endorsing any of the presidential hopefuls for the 2023 elections.
It would be recalled that CAN, like many other stakeholders, had been highly critical of the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But for Olaleru, the Christian body would be negating its own mandate if it decides to drum support for a presidential candidate on grounds of religion.
“All the political parties have Christians as members. In fact PDP, Labour Party and NNPP have Christians or even ministers as their presidential candidates or Vice Presisential candidates. CAN should just individually negotiate with each presidential aspirants, and document it, on what the Christian body wants from them,” he said.
“CAN should not fall into the trap of endorsing or rejecting any candidate because that candidate may not necessarily win or lose. CAN should note that all we need is to have a Southerner becoming president without religious or tribal sentiments.”
The university don argued that if a Muslim Southerner had served as Nigeria’s president, talks of a Fulanization agenda would have been buried in the past, saying Christians in the South — especially South West — had always voted on the basis on competence and not religious lines.
He said, “While not speaking in favour of any candidate, CAN should allow Christians to objectively analyse and choose which candidate will fight the course of Christianity. Take for example, we have a moslem contestant (referring to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the APC) who fought for the interest of Christians more than any of the contestants.
“How? He was the governor who released mission schools to mission owners, a feat which the past Christian governors could not do. He brought a lot of Christians to greatness and limelight as governors, Vice President etc. He completed the building of Lagos House Chapel at Marina and make it functional.
“Other contesting presidents should be made to tell us their unique contribution to Christianity while they were governors. Even if it is done out of wrong motives, we need to hear before rushing to make decisions.”
