Ahead of the inauguration and election of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, the Coalition of Middle Belt Youth Leaders has urged the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, to stop whipping religious sentiments and allow members of the National Assembly to choose their leaders.
The Middle Belt Youth Leaders were responding to Shettima’s comment that the issue of Islamization will be at the front burner if a Muslim emerged as the Senate President of the 10th Assembly.
According to the youth leaders, if Shettima is sensitive to the plight of Christians in the country, he should step down for a Christian to emerge as the Vice President for the religious balancing that he is now advocating for.
Speaking at a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the leader of the coalition, Nasiru Jagaba, said a competent person should be elected as the next Senate President irrespective of religion or tribe.
They urged Shettima to desist from making unhealthy statements and allow elected lawmakers to choose the Presiding Officers of their choice.
“What we are trying to avoid is a situation whereby the number one citizen, number two citizen, the number three citizen, and the number four citizen are all of the same faith. That will lend credence and validate the negative narratives of the Islamization agenda of Nigeria,” Shettima was quoted as saying.
But, reacting to the comment, the Middle Belt Youth Leaders said Shettima and his agents should leave Nigerians alone because his counsel was not needed.
“The country has moved on from the same-faith ticket and we do not need this now and we believe that the best Shettima can do now to show he is sensitive to the stability of this country and his sudden advocacy for Christianity, is to humbly step down for a Christian Vice President as it is still not too late.
“This is the best way forward now that he has found his voice and conscience. Until that is done, we will continue to rate Shettima as a bigot, who specialises in manipulating religion for his personal interest.
“We equally admonish our elected lawmakers of the 10th National Assembly not to let themselves be deceived by Shettima’s Machiavellian moves and elected leaders should defend the interest of the majority of Nigerians, irrespective of their faith or ethnicity.
“They should know that Nigerians have great expectations and goodwill for them and that we support whatever they decide by themselves, hence they should guide and guard themselves from the voices that they take counsel from,” the group stated.
The forum further noted that if Shettima was a democrat, a patriot, and a true leader whose interest is the good of the nation, he would have suggested a mixed faith ticket for each arm of the nation’s government and not only the legislative arm.
“This to us is a clear show of reckless disregard of the common interests for self interest and if our opinion is true, then Nigeria is in for a ride with a mind as this on the second most powerful seat in Nigeria.
“As patriots and objective minds whose interest is the good of the nation, we here today warn Kashim Shettima to stop this manipulation and unnecessary incitements against the relative peace that we are enjoying for now.
“He should not remind us of the past, it was under his regime that Christian girls were abducted in Chibok and till this day, some of them are still being held captive,” the group added.
