Muhammed-Bello Buhari (MB Buhari), a public affairs commentator, on Saturday said “it’ll be very hypocritical for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to try to sell the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by saying that it’s not about religion but competence”.
Newsbreak reports that Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the APC, had emerged as the flagbearer of the ruling party on Wednesday.
There are concerns that Tinubu, a Muslim, might be forced to pick a Muslim running mate from the North where Christians are the minority.
“It’ll be very hypocritical for the APC to try to sell the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by saying that it’s not about religion but competence. It’s a lie. Because it’s always about religion here,” Buhari wrote on his Facebook page.
“Wait, since when did competence became a yardstick for choosing a running mate? Because if it’s about competence, there are many competent northern Christians that are capable of occupying that rubber stamp office of the VP.
“The NE and NC have never produced a President, and there are many competent Christians there. But trying to use competency to justify a Muslim-Muslim ticket will be an insult not only to the Christians here in the North but to every reasonable Nigerian.
“Let the APC be open, the Muslim-Muslim ticket is only about winning. They have a formidable opponent in the name of Atiku who’s a Muslim and a northerner. And herein religion is the opium of the people, and that’s why choosing a running mate who’s a Muslim is very paramount. Tell us this, tell the affected regions this. And most importantly, offer them a better office than the VP.
“If you’re sincere and honest, they’ll take it and they won’t take it if they’re not wise. I mean, look at the present government — a Muslim President, a Christian VP, a Muslim SP, a Muslim Speaker. So there will always be a better offer. But preaching a Muslim-Muslim ticket on the basis of competency is nonsense and lacks reason.”
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