For the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, beating dozens of co-aspirants to emerge victorious at the recently concluded presidential primaries in Abuja only moved him to a conundrum that is not proving easy to resolve.
Even before his triumph at the Abuja Eagle Square, many had predicted a hard choice in nominating a running mate. Unlike the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, the former Lagos State governor was mindful of the presence of banana peels posed by the religious factor relating to the choice of his deputy.
That the presidential candidate is still engrossed in a dark hole of indecision over his choice of a running mate is reflective of the delicate need t0 exercise caution and delicately balance the religious sensitivity of Christians. While it may look too simplistic to damn the consequence and nominate a non-Christian, those close to him are advising him to be very wary of the vocal few as any wrong decision may spell doom for his presidential prospects. In normal climes, there is no relationship between religion and politics. Sadly, we live in a country where adherents of the two major faiths are entangled in a fight for mutual balancing. While religion may not have mattered in 1993, the present distasteful deployment of religion to attain political dominance remains a constant threat to Nigeria’s existential threat. Tinubu may have resolved to nominate a fellow Muslim as his running mate, but the forces opposed to this choice cannot be completely dismissed.
Those advising the ‘Jagaban Borgu’ not to take into cognisance the religious factor are quick to remind him that competence should be the keyword. If we are to be truthful to ourselves for once, are we saying that Nigeria’s Northern non-Muslims are not competent to be nominated as running mate for Tinubu? Except for some political exigencies, the argument for Muslim-Muslim running mate on the basis of competence is only an attempt to enthrone religious dominance. To state that Northern Christians politicians do not possess the competence to serve as Tinubu’s running mate is most abhorrent and despicable.
Early in the week, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) issued a stern warning to all political parties not to toy with the idea of endorsing same-religion ticket, as the Christian umbrella body argued that it amounted to promoting religious bigotry. Many pro-competence advocates are now harping on competence, rather than religion. As I was writing this article yesterday’s evening, Tinubu’s choice for his deputy was still speculative. That the former National Leader of the APC, who is now the party’s presidential candidate, is yet to unveil the identity of his running mate reveals that resolving the Muslim-Muslim matter is not as easy as it seems. Let us accept the fact that competence, rather than religion, should serve as the yardstick for the choice of Tinubu’s deputy. Are the pro-Muslim-Muslim advocates saying that it is impossible to get a Northern Christian with the requisite competence to serve as the running mate to the APC flag bearer?
When on Thursday the ‘Wazirin Adamawa’ and presidential candidate of the PDP unveiled the identity of his running mate in Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa of Delta State, there was complete silence in the camp of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who was earlier reported to have been recommended by the PDP. Some have launched acerbic criticisms on Okowa for daring to accept to serve as Atiku’s running mate as it ran against the decision taken by Southern Governors not to accept the running mate position. Now that Atiku has announced his choice, the coming days may be uncertain as some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and PDP Governors are threatening fire and brimstone over Atiku’s choice.
As the Northern governors, except Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State, insist BAT should pick a Northern Muslim, many, including yours sincerely, are asking what has changed since 2014 when the APC kicked against the same-faith ticket. Something strange is unraveling and it may take a long while for Nigerians to understand why Northern APC’s top guns are hell-bent that Tinubu picks a Muslim candidate in a country preaching inclusiveness to douse religious tension.
As I write this piece, our country is yet to be saved from the tenterhooks of violence among adherents of the two faiths, following the brutal killing of a female student, Deborah Samuel, in Sokoto over alleged blasphemy. Two weeks ago, the same storm of blasphemy ripped through Lugbe in Abuja, claiming a vigilante member, Ahmad Usman. I read a newspaper report that three people were on Tuesday charged to court over the killing of a Lagos sex worker from the North in sometimes April 2022. Offence of the prostitute: A copy of the Holy Qur’an was found under her pillow. The sex worker, who had accused one of the three for stealing N5000 after paying N2000 for a round sex, was beaten and burnt to death.
These bizarre happenings, where life has become so short and brutish, have made it imperative for all segments of the Nigerian society to be represented at the highest level of government. It is more a psychological stability than granting any advantage for members of the two religions. That a Pentecostal Pastor, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is the vice president has not in any way protected Christian communities from incessant attacks unleashed by Boko Haram and members of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP).
Let me quickly add here that I am in support of any ticket that can improve our country’s fortunes. I am angry at how politicians are resorting to religious sentiments to ignite destructive passion in order to drill holes of disunity among us. I do not give a damn if an atheist/atheist ticket can salvage our country. What we need now, more than ever before, is carrying every segment of our traumatised society along in order to heal our hurting nation.
If Tinubu eventually succumbs to pressure to nominate a Muslim as his running mate, he is bound to confront questions that may be too difficult to answer. Though I agree that religion is personal and should not be an issue, we live in a nation where the state has failed in safeguarding the lives and property of our citizens. The Asiwaju ought to be told without equivocation that the choice of his running mate will determine how far he goes in the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. If he decides to nominate a Northerner of the same faith, his choice may deprive him of votes that prove decisive. Christians who may feel psychologically alienated may avoid the former governor with a long pole. Once that happens, he will be a victim of his wrong choice.
I strongly predict that Nigerian Christendom may rise against Tinubu’s lifelong presidential dream if he demonstrates gross insensitivity to her members. If the former governor refuses to deal wisely with the choice of a running mate, Atiku’s camp stands to gain. The APC candidate should know that Atiku, being a Northern Muslim, holds more aces than him among Muslims. Any attempt to downgrade the relevance of the Christian populace will only make them port their votes to either the PDP or the Labour Party where the popularity of Mr Peter Obi is frighteningly soaring and creating waves on social media platforms. Whether such popularity will metamorphose into votes at the polling units is yet to be ascertained.
If caution is to be applied in the choice of a running mate, Tinubu stands the chance of realising his ambition. However, if he allows banana peels thrown on his path in the name of a same-faith ticket to hold sway, he risks embarking on a futile trip to the corridor of power. Few hours to the expiration of yesterday’s deadline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on submission of names for running mates, the APC king maker, who now wants to be a king, must come up with a infallible plan to either choose a Northern Christian or work extra hard to convince them that they matter in politics. It is a decision he must make. Whatever his decision, BAT’s bumpy path to realising his lifelong dream is encrusted with religious landmines.
