The Convener, Catalyst Global Peace and Justice Initiative, Pastor Abraham Sam Aiyedogbon, has expressed displeasure over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Straightnews reported that Bola Tinubu officially announced a former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
Reacting, Aiyedogbon, during an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, said that the APC will pay a “high price” for Tinubu’s choice.
He said “They know what they’re doing. They know that they can’t allow our vote to count, that is why they are confident in doing it.
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“We have decided this time, we will make rigging difficult for them, I was one of the electoral monitors in the last 2019 election. My organisation catalyst for global peace and justice initiative were employed to be in the Frontline.
“The PFN Exco, CAN Exco and I trust the Catholic bishop conference will mobilize. We want them to pay a high price.
“Whether they win or lose they will learn that you don’t trample on people because they are tolerant. You don’t trample people because you think you have got a few people that can compromise. We are going to teach them a lesson.
“We will mobilize and do everything within our power, some of us even if we die in the process it’s worth it .The reason we are enjoying democracy today is because the great MKO gave his life for it ,so if some of us die in the process, let it be. I am not seeking any political office in CAN or PFN.
“We are mobilizing greatly, except they engage us and convince us otherwise and not on TV and not showing some arrogance because you feel you are invisible. We are going to teach them a lesson.”
Tinubu’s choice is contrary to the advice given by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which had earlier warned presidential candidates not to field running mates of the same religion.
Catholic Bishops in the country have raised their voices against any purported plan by any political party to endorse a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the forth coming elections.
A statement issued by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) on Tuesday in Abuja, warned that such action would be the most insensitive- decision to take in a country whose unity and peaceful co-existence have been threatened by many non-state actors.
The statement which was signed by Secretary – General CSN, Very Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi, and Director, Social Communications CSN, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, noted that experience has shown the havoc such a ticket could wreck on the nation.
Also, South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has attacked the nomination of Senator Shettima.
According to Clark, with the action of the former Lagos State Governor in appointing a Muslim to run with him even as a Muslim in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country with Christianity and Islam as the major religions, he felt very threatened for Nigeria as a country.
