By Egbe Attah
Following the adoption of Muslim-Muslim ticket by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the unveiling of its vice presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election on Wednesday, some Christian leaders in Otukpo, Benue State, have bared their minds on the matter.
Reacting, the Co-ordinator, Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Otukpo Local Government Chapter, Rev Fredrick Onoja, said the Muslim-Muslim ticket was not the best option for Nigeria, saying that, there might be a hidden agenda behind it.
He held that Nigeria, being a country with two major religions, consideration should be given in her politics and other national engagements.
“Nigeria has never had it so bad. A situation in which a particular religion is favoured over the others in a secular state like ours is dangerous.
“Even during the military era, religious interest and balance was always considered. As we condemned Muslim-Muslim ticket that is how we’ll not accept Christian-Christian ticket,” he explained.
The Bishop of Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement, Idoma District, Special Apostle Samuel Igbinigie, who spoke through the District Secretary, Okpe John, averred that the Muslim-Muslim ticket was not acceptable to Christians as it might be used to Islamise Nigeria.
Also speaking, a cleric of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Diocese of Ito, Obi Local Government Area, Rev Daniel Agbese, condemned the move in its entirety, saying that the country is multi-religious and side-lining one religion would not augur well for the nation.
He held that for APC to have national support and win the next general elections, it had to rescind that decision.
Similarly, the Senior Pastor, Restoration International Gospel Centre, Rev Tony Ogah condemned the arrangement of using Muslim-Muslim as APC presidential and vice presidential candidates. Ogah, who said he stands with the Christian Association of Nigeria which had earlier rejected the move, maintained that the bishops and other clerics who graced the unveiling were on their personal mission.
Others, who reacted, including, a Christian elder, Chief Icha Adole, a pastor, Enoch Attah all decried the development, stressing that Nigeria, being a multi-religious, and multi-ethnic nation, should not promote one faith or tribe above the other.
Separately, the church leader asserted that the bishops and pastors who were at the venue of the unveiling of the APC vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, are fake as they have no fixed addresses or denominations.
