IBUKUNOLUWA KING-OKUNEYE
Terver Akase, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has slammed the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over its choice of presidential candidate and running mate.
APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, a Yoruba Muslim, on Sunday announced a former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, also a Muslim, as his running mate.
The development has been generating controversies as some stakeholders are kicking against the Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying that Christians are not represented.
Tinubu had likened his choice to that of MKO Abiola, who in 1993, despite being a Muslim, chose a Muslim as his running mate. The APC candidate said that religion has never been a problem in choosing a running mate in the country.
But reacting to Tinubu’s statement, Akase wrote in a post on his official Facebook page that it was an error to compare the current political dispensation to that of Abiola’s time
He said, “1993 is not 2023. In 1993, Nigeria was not divided on religious grounds as it is now. In addition, MKO Abiola was loved across party lines. He was a man of the people. That’s why he defeated his opponent Bashir Tofa in his state, Kano.
“A political party that truly loves this country and wants to unite the people and rebuild confidence will seek to close the divisions by being sensitive. Their choice of presidential running mate confirms how that party takes the feelings of Nigerians.
“Check out their team: Presidential candidate – Muslim, running mate – Muslim, the current National Chairman of the party – Muslim.
“Now they are telling us that religion doesn’t matter in elections. The question is; if religion doesn’t matter, why does region matter? Why did he not choose his running mate from the South West?”
