Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma says Nigerians must remain united and avoid any form of ethnicity and religious discrimination ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Governor Uzodinma made the remark at the State House after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said: “There is nowhere in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where religion is a factor or characteristic as to who becomes a president or a running mate.
“We are looking for a united Nigeria where governance will be the issue, where a President will be judged by his capacity to deliver democratic dividends and develop Nigeria to look like other parts of the western world where democracy is working.
“I don’t want us to reduce governance in Nigeria to certain things that will encourage divisiveness; rather, we should remain a united Nigeria, be our brothers’ keepers and have a president of Nigeria, representing every tribe, religion and denomination.”
Running Mate
Uzodinma said the decision to choose lies with the presidential candidate of the governing All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu not with Governors.
The choice of a running mate will take into consideration all the indices that will promote fairness and unity of the country. The Imo Governor said:
“When we get there, we will cross the bridge. The decision also to choose a running mate does not reside with any of us the governors. It is the presidential candidate that will look at the local characteristics and every factor, political and apolitical that will make him win his election and take the decision. So it’s not a decision that we will sit here and take for the candidate.”
Olusola Akintonde
