A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Mingi of Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa State, King Edmund Dakoru, has kicked against Muslim-Muslim, or Christian-Christian presidential ticket, saying it is at variance with the spirit of justice, fairness and equity.
The monarch said choosing presidential and vice presidential candidates from the same faith was against the secular status of the country.
Dakoru stated this while speaking to aviation correspondents at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, on Wednesday.
According to him, those promoting the idea of same faith presidential ticket do not wish Nigeria well, adding that their action will further divide the country along religious fault lines.
He expressed doubt that Nigerians would want to vote any party that fields presidential candidates from the same faith.
“Nigeria is a multi-religious country of more than 200 million people who are Muslims and non-Muslims as the case may be.
“One can say that the country is owned by more than 200 million citizens who are of diverse religious groups and backgrounds.
“In order to be just to all the citizens of the country, and also to balance the apparent religious sentiments prevalent in the country, Nigeria’s politicians and its major political parties have avoided fielding same-faith presidential candidates since the present political dispensation from 1999.
“The combination of a Muslim and non-Muslim in a presidential ticket, in Nigeria of today, also gives vent to the spirit of justice, fairness and equity, and considering the fact that the country is for the Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
“I believe that both the religion of Islam and Christianity order the sincere administration of justice on all, regardless of any distinction, be it religious, ethnic, geographical, tribal, and so on.
“As a secular nation, we ought to always stand for justice as a matter of principle, whether for Christians, Muslims and others, even if justice should side against them”, he said.
The former minister also enjoined all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, to always show love for mankind, regardless of any social difference.
Meanwhile, the founder of the Royal House of Grace International Church in Port Harcourt, Apostle David Zilly Aggrey, has also opposed presidential ticket featuring same faith.
Speaking to aviation correspondents recently, Rev. Aggrey, noted that past Presidents in the country had always maintained a balance in the system for the Christian and Muslim ticket.
“We have a Mosque and a Chapel at the Presidential Villa, and either the President or the Vice had maintained either of them for worship and prayer.
“Choosing a Muslim-Muslim ticket will mean a deviation from what is ideal, and that means that the Aso Rock Chapel may be locked for four or eight years.
“If Ahmed Bola Tinubu feels he can neglect Christians, and choose a Muslim-Muslim ticket, no problem, let him go ahead with it, but Nigerians still have their choice to make”, he said.
Also reacting to this development while interacting with journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, the Senior Pastor of WordLife Gospel Center, Israel Nnokam, said Nigeria is a multi-religious nation, with two dominant religions: Christianity and Islam, which reflect people’s political life.
Consequently, he said, Nigerians should be allowed to decide whether or not they will support a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023, rather than allow the issue to create tension in the polity.
Nnokam noted that as long as the process was democratic, people would be able to choose the candidate of their choice during the presidential election, scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023.
“There has been public disquiet over reports that the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, may pick a fellow Muslim as his running mate because the North, where he’s expected to choose from, is dominated by Muslims.
“Several individuals and groups, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have kicked against Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket, saying it would not stand. But those in support of the move argued that competence should be placed above religious consideration.
“However, the political process is democratic and if it is so, the people will decide, except it is not (democratic).
“So, whatever any political party is projecting in terms of its candidates, the people would have to decide if that is acceptable to them or not.
“That is what democracy is all about. You won’t compel them to vote for a person they don’t want to. I don’t think it’s an issue. Let the people decide what they want. That is what the democratic process is all about.” he concluded.

By: Corlins Walter