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The needless rage over Muslim-Muslim ticket

By Afolabi Aribigbola

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In recent times the political landscape of Nigeria has been dominated by discourse and contestation on the desirability and otherwise of the choice of Presidential candidates and their deputies by the two major political parties in the country. First the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was berated for the choice of her presidential candidates from the northern part of the country, in spite of their party’s recognition of zoning and rotation of the presidency between the North and Southern parts of the country.

This was hinged on the understanding that the present president is from the north and the next should come from the south. The hue and cry on this were yet to subside, then came the choice of their vice-presidential candidates that has also degenerated into a serious discord that is yet to be assuaged by a section of the party.

 As the controversy surrounding the choice of Presidential flag bearer of the PDP and running mate are still on, crisis equally erupted as to the choice of vice-presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in what seems like a widespread dry season or winter fire.Prior to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s naming his running mate,speculation was rife as to the possibility of him choosing a northern Muslim as his running mate. Thus, has been raising issues as to the desirability and or otherwise of a Muslim-Muslim ticket. It has generated serious and vociferous debates and disagreement with outright rejection of Muslim-Muslim ticket especially by the Christian community.

Tinubu, a Muslim from the South has chosen Alhaji Shettima, a Muslim from the North East as his vice which did not go down well with many people and sections of the country especially the Christians that believed that it was a deliberate attempt to subjugadicate them. To them, this is antithesis of the past practices where the two positions of President and Vice President are usually shared between the North and South and between the two major religions of Moslem and Christianity in the country. Though not a written law, but has become a standard and an acceptable practice that has ensured and guaranteed peace, stability and peaceful coexistence of all sections and groups in the country.

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Thus, the presidential candidate of APC, a Muslim from the south was expected to choose his vice from among the Christians population in the north. This turned out not to be and the tantrum and brickbat that have erupted since he made his choice of Senator Shettima public.

Consequently, many individuals and groups have argued that such contestations, debates and disagreement are a needless controversy, that elevate religion to a state affair and major considerations in the choice of the President and his vice and as unhealthy and necessary in the polity. That energy should instead be dissipated on debating the competence and ability of the candidates to perform in the highly demanding office of the President of Nigeria  especially now that the country is confronted with very difficult and seeming intractable problems of economic crisis, insecurity and disunity and the realization that the country has been seriously polarized on ethnic, regional and religion lines. That the country requires a very passionate individuals imbued with capacity, competency and passion to take the country out of its present predicaments and doldrum. To them this should be more paramount and should be the focus of public discourse and scrutiny to get the best candidate.

Indeed, the concern and contestation about Muslim-Muslim would not have  surfaced to take the front burner in public discourse in the county if there has not been polarity and past attempts to promote one religion above others in the country. Of course, the issue of religion in the choice of political leaders in Nigeria has never been this prominent in public discourse in the country. An indication of the level to which things have degenerated and the fact that many things are wrong in the country. In the south west and the entire south it has never been an issue among the populace. Why has it become a serious issue in the present dispensation? Some argued that it is the fallout of leadership failure bedeviling the development of the country. Interrogating the Nigerian political trajectory and realities in the country now suggests that religion matters in the country. Or it is by accidents that all the heads of security agencies and major parastatals are from a section of the country and almost all of them are Muslims? These are issues causing apprehension and agitations.

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Of course, the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate of Asiwaju Tinubu is not without some supports. In some quarters, the choice has been lauded. One of such individuals that commended the decision was Mr Olagoke Salami and many other people including Christian leaders such as Pastor Bakare. He argued that in 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket should not be an issue and counselled church leaders to approach the issue with civility, clarity and with continued hope in the possibilities of a united Nigeria. Unfortunately some of the leaders of the Muslim faith did not help matters. Some of them such as Ibrahim Aliyu kaduna and Aminu Jetan insisted that a northern Christian will be unacceptable to them. Such thinkings and dispositions are what is creating more crisis in the country.

Ordinarily, the issue of religion that have been elevated to a national prominence and attention ought not be a major consideration and yardsticks in selecting leaders in the country. Inadvertently, it has become a major issue influencing the state of affairs if the truth must be told. In public functions for instance, it has become the standard for prayers to be offered by leaders of the major two religions. In government offices and residential places mosqus and churches are essential features and in most cases are given prominence. Who then says that religion does not matter in state affairs in the country? Yes, the constitution of the country indicates that the country is a secular state, but Arabic language of Islam found itself in major state documents. Indeed, the agitation and concern with Muslim-Muslim tickets would not have surfaced if there has not been serious polarity in terms of religion in the country and the seeming preference or prominence afforded and actions of leaders of one of the religions.

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Therefore, if religious balance has been used in the past to stabilize the country and foster her unity and progress, I don’t see any reason why it should be jettisoned now knowing full well that a section of the population will feel marginalized and not reckoned with in the scheme of things. For now, for stability, equality and social justice, I think the country cannot completely do away with the issue of religion since it has been manipulated by the leaders to hoodwink the people to follow them and has been fully embraced and supported by adherent of both Muslim and Christian religions. This conjecture is based on the stark reality of Nigerian situation and precedent in the past dispensation of picking leaders in the country. However, what makes for rapid development is good leadership imbued with right and sufficient capacity to drive the state into prosperity and peaceful. Afterall, most of the prosperous societies in contemporary times are populated by people without religion but consists of upright, sincere and committed people and leaders.

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The needless rage over Muslim-Muslim ticket

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