•••SAYS NO PARTY SHOULD UNDERMINE THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
The National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr Samson Ayokunle, has again said that the strongly speculated Muslim-Muslim will not fly in 2023.
Bishop Ayokunle warned the ruling All Progressives Congress to resist the temptation of going for a presidential ticket with two Muslims on it warning that it would come with dire consequences.
The CAN President’s statement follows comments attributed to the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, that there was nothing wrong about a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
There is a growing speculation that the Presidential Candidate of the APC is inclined to opt for a Muslim-Muslim ticket, to boost his chances of victory in the next election.
The debate on a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the APC Candidate had dominated the social media at the weekend.
Bishop Ayokunle spoke at an interdenominational church service to mark the 2022 Democracy Day celebration held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on Sunday
The CAN President was represented by the President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Founder of Sword of The Spirit Ministries International, Bishop Francis Wale-Oke.
Ayokunle who spoke on the theme ‘More than Conquerors stressed that any political party that is serious about producing Nigeria’s next president must not undermine the Christian community.
He said, “While I congratulate the candidates, I must sound this warning, please do not fly a Muslim-Muslim ticket. It would not fly. It will not stand. Rather, it would set the nation against each other.
“The candidate who will emerge is the one who works with the Church. Please, do not alienate the church.
“If you embrace equity, fairness and justice, the Nigerian electorate will reward you with their votes at the polls and they will give you their support.”Reiterating his counsel on equity and fairness, the CAN President said the country cannot claim to practice justice when a certain region is deprived of producing a president.
“You can only rule when there is a nation. In your campaigns, make sure you exalt fairness, justice and equity. If there is no righteousness, fairness and equity, we will remain divided.
“There is no fairness if a certain people from a certain ethnic group are reduced to second class citizens who cannot aspire to the highest office in the land.
“We pray for an end to killing people in their place of worship. We pray for a nation that is united and where justice, fairness and equity reigns. God bless you all and God bless Nigeria.”
Present at the event are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who represented Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Representative of the Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Deputy Chief Whip of the Federal House of Representatives; Minister of Women Affairs and former Senatorial Aspirant of the APC, Paulen Tallen; President of the Court of Appeal represented by Justice H.S Samani, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of the Federal Capital Territory, Water Resources, Police Affairs, Civil Service Commission. Others include the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Representatives of the Chief of Air Staff, Major General A.B Omozoje, Representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral J.B Basan, Inspector General of Police, DIG Johnson Kokumo, Chief of Defense Intelligence, Major General SA Adebayo, heads of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigeria Immigration Service, National Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, and clergy men and women, including the Chaplain of the Aso Rock Chapel, Seyi Malomo.
Also in attendance were Ambassadors of Jamaica, Burundi, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Angola, Botswana and Country Director of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Walter Mulombo.