A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun Adegboruwa, has highlighted some implications of presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the All Progressives Congress.
In a post on Wednesday, the human rights lawyer highlighted 10 “grave” implications while faulting the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
The condemnations greeted the announcement of Kashim Shettima as the running mate of APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
But Tinubu argued that he prioritised national growth and development above “religious sentiments” in picking Shettima.
He said Shettima’s career in politics and beyond shows that “he is eminently qualified not only to deliver that all-important electoral victory”.
The APC presidential candidate recalled that in 1993, Nigerians embraced Chief MKO Abiola and a fellow Muslim running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe, in “one of our fairest elections ever held”.
He explained that if we truly understood the challenges upon Nigeria, citizens would place competence in governance above religious sentiment.
“The spirit of 1993 is upon us again in 2023,” he added.
However, Adegboruwa said the spirit of Hope 93 died with MKO.
He said, “Others don’t matter. Shows absence of consideration for unity and plurality.
“Desperation and over-ambition. We just want power at all costs and we don’t care what others think or do.
“We can win the elections without you, especially by other means other than by open ballot.
“It is a cruel affirmation of supposed superiority complex. That only one region determines electoral victory. That the presidential candidate of the APC is not acceptable to Northern Muslims.
“It is an indication of a hidden agenda. The spirit of Hope 93 died with MKO and those who betrayed him and his mandate. May Boko Haram, terrorists and insurgents, their sponsors and sympathisers not win the 2023 elections.
“That Nigeria is not a secular state but rather being ruled to satisfy certain religious tendencies.
“That the APC has absolute control of the electoral system and thus electoral victory may not be determined through free, fair and credible elections.
“That certain political tendencies and interests do not trust others to accommodate them if they are entrusted with power whereas they have been in power and accommodated by others.
“That the APC presidential candidate has no mind of his own and he will be unable to defend the unity of Nigeria in crucial moments of decision making.
“That the APC is incompetent to manage a complex nation like Nigeria with diverse interests, different tongues and tribes and consisting of different faiths.”