As the preparations for the 2023 general elections gather momentum, a foremost professional group, APC Professionals Council has urged the National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee to look beyond the narrow prism of religion and place competency and national interest on the front burner in the selection of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu running-mate for the progress of the party and Nigerians at large.
This comes as the group says religious biases cannot be extricated from why the country has for decades been mired in protracted and perennial backwardness when compared with several other countries of the world even within the African region.
It described as primitive and anachronistic the specter of intolerance being raised and disunity being raised by some politically exposed persons hiding under the veneer of ‘religious balancing’.
Reacting to the alleged plan by the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Tinubu to pick a Northern Muslim as his running mate ahead of next year’s election, the Council in a statement on Tuesday signed by its Director-General, Amb. Seyi Bamigbade and General Secretary Alex Elemena insisted that development does not recognize the colour of religion, maintaining that at a period when all countries of the world are placing premium on competence and character, Nigeria should borderless on the religion of those who are ready and eager to turn around the country’s fortunes.
According to the Council, 29 years ago, Nigerians came out in large numbers to support, endorse and massively vote for a Muslim-Muslim ticket of June 12, 1993, which was sadly annulled. Nearly 3 decades later, few unpatriotic citizens are raising the flag of religion just to score cheap political points.
The Council further describes it as more regrettable and worrisome that at a time when our country, just like several countries of the world are affected by global challenges holding nations by the jugular such as dearth of infrastructure, depleting educational system, burgeoning unemployment rate, inflation, security concerns and many more, instead of looking forward to a window of solution which the candidacy of Asiwaju offers, a very few individuals are hell-bent on amplifying the tone of religion which has over the years been the bane of our national development.
“Can we seek solutions to our challenges with the same grit and energy it was ab-initio created? Does the woman who deals on Garri and rice in the market deal with us on the basis of the logo of our religion? Does the school management give us a soft spot when it is time for the children’s fees because of the religion we belong to? Does unemployment recognize what religion is? Does insecurity understand the card of religion?
“Nigerians are wiser even much more than they were in 1993 and cannot fall for this ember of disharmony being fanned by a few aggrieved political interests. The destiny of our nation cannot be jeopardized by those who thrive on the crest of religious disharmony.
“They are the same people who travel to Dubai, the UK, and the rest of the world for medication and holidays. They are the same people who send their children to the best schools around the globe while at the same time working hard to ensure that our system does not work for children of the poor. We must reject them and their unpatriotic advances.
“Mr. Chairman Sir, It’s important to emphasize that the state governors who have raised the bar of effective performance are not doing so on the basis of their religion but on the merit of their character and competence.
“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a man who has not only demonstrated religious tolerance but has blurred the line of religion in all his years of national service, including in Lagos where persons from the South-East, Northern Nigeria, and South-South were part of his cabinet as governor.
“Lastly, Mr. Chairman Sir, the history and posterity would be kind to you for embracing Competence and National Interest against Religion for choosing a perfect team that can take us further. It’s time for Religion to take the back seat.
Fatai Abiodun
National Publicity Secretary
www.apcprofessionalscouncil.com.ng
08187651348
