Presidential Elections: Clerics Congress of Nigeria Endorses Tinubu/ Shettima Ticket
Edwin Akwueh, Abuja.
Eleven days to the presidential election, the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu / Kashim Shettima ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got a big boost in Abuja on Monday with endorsements by Christian leaders under the aegis of Clerics Congress of Nigeria.
The endorsement took place at a stakeholders’ conference attended by representatives of both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the APC.
The Clerics, led by Archbishop Ali John Ali and Bishop Timothy Cheren, premised their endorsements of Tinubu / Shettima ticket on competence, capacity and required vision for progressive leadership and nation-building.
In a speech read on behalf of the clerics totalling 500 across the country, Bishop Cheren said the Tinubu / Shettima ticket is the best choice for Nigeria and Nigerians.
‘After a cursory look at all the presidential aspirants, and without any dint of sentiment attached, we have found one candidate suitable to deliver the required result needed to take our nation out of our present predicament and usher in the required development needed to take us to the next level.
‘That candidate, without any shadow of a doubt, is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
‘Our decision has been predicated on the indices of track record of past performance, ability to unite the country and fight insecurity, economic programme of development and the ability to build a sterling leadership succession,’ the statement read in part.
Muslim-Muslim Candidacy
‘On the issue of a Muslim and Muslim ticket which has engendered so much debate, we have carefully considered the issues that gave birth to the decision to select a Muslim as his deputy, and came to the conclusion that the reasons were more about the strategy to win elections and have somebody he can be comfortable to work with, than of religious discrimination.
‘Looking closely at the life of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, you can see he has a Christian wife, children that are of Christian faith. Most of his political friends and associates are Christians. This is definitely not the man that will Islamize the country.
‘We, therefore, urge those playing the card of religion discriminalization to sheath their swords in the spirit of national harmony and integration,’ the statement further read.
In their separate speeches of acceptance, representatives of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Senator Grace Bent and that of Senator Kashim Shettima, Senator Smart Adeyemi, commended the clerics for rising above religious sentiments in making their choice.
Senator Adeyemi in particular, described Tinubu as a liberal-minded Muslim who will not, in anyway, make any policy or take decisions that would be injurious to Christians in the country.
Nigeria, he posited, is at a crossroads, requiring a leader that is highly visionary and full of ideas.
‘Both Asiwaju Tinubu and Senator Shettima are men of honour who are needed at the helms of affairs at the highest level in Nigeria today,’ he stressed.
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