The Southern-Northern Progressive Youth Congress has condemned purported plans by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to field a Muslim as a running mate for its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, another Muslim, in the 2023 general elections.
The group, in a statement jointly signed by its national coordinator and national secretary, Nsebabi Brownson and Bashir Aliyu Galadanchi, respectively, rather endorsed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, as the running mate for Tinubu.
The group said: “Tacitly put, we condemn in very strong terms the current rumours of the purported Muslim/Muslim ticket being conjectured by the Presidential candidate of the APC, His Excellency Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
“We advise that the APC should not slip into such political murky waters by acceding to whatever antics and pressure of having a Muslim/Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential elections to avoid unnecessary and avoidable challenges which could derail the vision of the coming government.
“Let us not forget the experiences of the 1993 general elections how the Muslim/Muslim ticket of Alhaji M.K.O. Abiola and Alhaji Babagana Kingibe ended.
“We strongly advocate for a Christian to be considered to be the running mate of his Excellency Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu the Jagaban of Borgu who convincingly won the APC presidential primary as the candidate of the Party.”
The group, therefore, recommended the SGF Mustapha, “based on credibility, competence, loyalty to the principles of the party, political advantages when compared with other most likely persons for the V.P slot.
“It is worldwide known that SGF Boss Mustapha has distinguished himself as the most credible, reliable and competent northern Christian in the corridor of power with immense good rapport from across the North with both Christian folks and Muslims.
“His credentials and credibility have earned him several commendations from his boss, the President, and his effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria have given him a national appeal with a high political support base.
“This and many factors are the reasons why this Group are advocating for APC and the Jagaban Borgu to choose Barr. Boss Mustapha as the best match for easy 2023 political victory.
“We adjure the leadership of the APC in the country to listen to the voice(s) of reason and do the needful.
“We strongly advise and wish that the APC Presidential candidate, Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu, listens to Nigerians. No tree can make a forest.
“No King is King without a Kingdom. And there is no Kingdom without a people. He who must be crowned king must be ready to listen to the people. A stich in time saves nine.”
