If elected as Nigeria’s next President in 2023, All Progressives Congress presidential candidate Bola Tinubu plans to appoint Christians to major positions of leadership in his government.
The assurance, issued by the Asiwaju Ahmed Bola-Shettima Presidential Support Group, came amid problems surrounding the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, despite nationwide outrage.
Abdulsalami Iyaji, the Director-General of AABOS and a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, provided the assurance during a news conference Friday evening in Abuja.
According to him, the decision will allay the fears and tensions caused by those opposed to Tinubu’s pick of Muslim Senator Kashim Shettima as running partner.
“During the general election, Nigerians should focus more on excellent government than religion and ethnicity,” he stated. Is it true that governance ends with the President and Vice President?
“There are lots of offices in government, such that the totality of their influence determines how the President and his vice operate. However, it is unfortunate that down the line, Nigerians don’t see things that way.
“When Tinubu and Shettima come on board, Christians will be prominent in virtually all areas of governance, and by so doing, the APC standard bearer will douse the fears and paranoia that has trailed the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“The conduct of Tinubu and Shettima will make the fears linked to the same faith ticket to become irrelevant such that in subsequent elections, religion will no longer be an issue. They will demonstrate what it takes to put aside religion and ethnicity as far as governance is concerned.”
Iyaji also stated that inflation, insecurity, hunger, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure had slowed Nigeria’s economy, but that Tinubu will address these issues on a national scale, as he did during his tenure as governor of Lagos from 1999 to 2007.
He explained that the support group’s mission was to guarantee that the electorate was well-informed about the APC’s policies and presidential candidate before the 2023 elections.
