Former Speaker of House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara has said having rejected the divisive same faith ticket, they are consulting with relevant Islamic and Christians leaders to jointly adopt a pan Nigerian platform that all of them will support in 2023.
Dogara stated this in a lecture titled “Nigerian Democracy post 1999: progress, diversity and national unity and magazine launch and awards event organized by MUPUN youths association at Zumji event centre in Jos at the weekend.
The former speaker, who was represented by the former member representing Pankshin, Kanke Kanam federal constituency of Plateau Hon. Timothy Golu said when some of them rose against the same faith ticket, it is because they are bothered by the issues and insistence on same faith ticket and same faith voting which is tantamount to summoning a jihad to collide with a crusade.
He said the people promoting this combustible agenda hate the North and by extension, Nigeria adding that they want to use religion to weaken the North first for some sinister schemes because our weakness is their strength.
“Take it or leave it, if Nigeria has a major promise those that will deliver on it will be those of you who will summon the courage to embrace people of other faiths in the spirit of justice, equity and Fair play. The truth is that no one will root out Islam just like no one will root out Christianity from the North or Nigeria.”
He stressed that “If that is the case, why won’t Christians and Muslims work together on the many things we agree upon to make Plateau, the North and Nigeria great. All that bothers us is the progress of all Nigerians regardless of creed.”
The former Speaker also pointed out that it doesn’t matter that some are calling them fanatics for daring to advocate for justice, inclusiveness and for a platform where Nigerians of all faiths can coalesce for nation building noting that if he is indeed a fanatic, he is grateful that he is not a fanatic for evil, injustice and division but a fanatic for justice, unity, inclusiveness, peace and progress.
Dogara argued that the very foundation and structures upon which our system is built is faulty and something radical must be done to correct, saying what is happening to us is failure at nation building and not the system that we adopted as we have no option but to come together as one people to build our country.
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