•••SAYS IT IS AN UNFAIR, UNJUST DIVISIVE ATTACK ON NIGERIA’s UNITY
All-Progressive Congress Party Northern Christian Leader’s summit held in Abuja on Friday has condemned in strong terms the Muslim Muslim Presidential ticket of the party.
The summit described the insistence of the APC for a Muslim/Muslim ticket despite the outrage and protestations from Nigerians, as unfair, divisive, unjust saying northern Christian would not support it.
This was contained in a communique was signed Prof Doknan DD Sheni [Plateau] North Central, Dr. Ishaya G Bauka [Taraba] North East, and Prof Saidu Ibrahim [Jigawa] North West.
The Northern Christian leaders said that the ticket was designed to divide Nigeria along religious lines and would not be supported as shown by the raging debate on the issue in the media.
They resolved to set up a committee to consult with critical stakeholders in all religions to arrive at a platform in pursuit of a united multi ethnic, multi religious Nigerian society as provided for by the constitution.
The communique reads, “The All-Progressive Congress Party Northern Christian Leader’s summit was held at the NICON LUXURY HOTEL Abuja on the 29th of July 2022 to evaluate the effects of our communiques of 13th February and 11th of July, 2022; and our various outings in the media and general consultations with various stakeholders within APC and in Nigeria as a whole.
After careful considerations and deliberations, the summit resolved as follows:
- That the adoption of a Muslim – Muslim ticket by our Party, the APC in defiance of protestations by well-meaning key national stakeholders, including prominent Islamic and Christians leaders, is divisive, unjust and insensitive and as a consequence; we Northern Christians in APC will not support or enable in any way this callous attempt to divide Nigeria along religious lines as exemplified by the already toxic debate in the media.
- That we will set up a committee within us with a mandate to go round Nigeria and consult with both Christians and Muslim stakeholders, including other stakeholders who are not of the faith community but who share our aspirations for a peaceful and united Nigeria to arrive at the best platform that will better galvanize and steer our patriotic spirits and resolve towards collectively building a united multi religious, multi-ethnic society as guaranteed by our constitution.
- That we will summon an interfaith summit in no distant future after consultations are concluded across religious divide where notable Muslim and Christian politicians and Islamic and Christian leaders will announce to the nation and the world the best Pan Nigerian platform that will better serve our collective interests as a people, post 2023.
- That all delegates will return to their communities and disseminate these resolutions and await the convocation of the next summit where a final decision would be taken on the ticket that we will collectively vote for in 2023.”