CAN Divided over APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket

CAN Divided over APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket

By Ozumi Abdul

There appears to be a division in the ranks of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s decision to field an all-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The party’s presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday announced former Borno state governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his running mate ahead of the election.

CAN through its national spokesman, Adebayo Oladeji, rose from a meeting in Abuja and condemned the ruling party’s decision.

Adebayo argued that making such decision in a polarised country is tantamount to reducing the adherents of other faiths to the country’s political background.

He added that if having a pastor as the vice president of the country and Christian clerics and worshipers are being killed , the security of lives and properties of Christians under a Muslim-Muslim could not be guaranteed, warning that Nigerians should be ready to face the consequences of their actions if they endorse and vote for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

In a contrary development, the Chairman of Borno State chapter of CAN, Bishop Mohammed Naga, however applauded Shettima’s selection.

Bishop Naga, in a statement on Monday, said the Christian community in Borno State has never had a better deal than under Shettima who governed the state between 2011 and 2019.

Naga, who described Shettima as a compassionate leader, said: “My brothers, those who are not from Borno State may not know, but you and I know better. In the history of Borno State, there is no Governor that has been fair to the Christian Community in this state as much as Governor Kashim Shettima. I am saying this in the presence of God Almighty and this is nothing but the truth. Governor Shettima, in the history of Borno, is the only Governor that has sponsored the highest number of Christian Pilgrims every year since 2011.”