By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
A group of Christian supporters in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Constituency of former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, has rejected the endorsement of the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the presidential candidate of the party, Ahmed Tinubu.
The group known as “Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa APC Political Movement For All Christians” faulted the claim that Christians in the APC have endorsed Tinubu and his running mate, describing it as a “sham, shame, false and fabricated in many ways.”
They said that though they are members of the APC in the three LGAs, they, however, are aligning with their member representing them at the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, by rejecting the same faith ticket because “there is an agenda.”
Recall that some constituents of former Speaker of the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Yakubu Dogara, last Thursday declared their support for the APC Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket, during a rally held at the Watal Hotel, Tafawa Balewa.
Our correspondent reports that Dogara, who represents Dass/Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro federal constituency of Bauchi State, has been one of the leading voices in the country opposing the same faith ticket put up by the APC.
Not satisfied with his party’s decision, Dogara, dumped the APC and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and expressed support for his new party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
But faulting the APC group which endorsed Tinubu and his running mate, during a press conference at Youth center in Tafawa Balewa, the Chairman of the group, Mallam Yakubu Garba, said that “those supporting the same faith ticket was carried out by some cash-out boys through a Trojan horse act to mislead members of the public.”
“We read this drama with great dismay because the publication was false and fabricated in many ways”, he said.
Garba noted that the group which endorsed the Muslim/Muslim ticket of the APC was a gathering of few individuals that included Muslims and Christians who were paid to carry out such despicable acts against the APC Christians of Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency.
He added that the act was “against their kinsman, Rt. Hon. Dr. Yakubu Dogara, who is and still remains our political leader come rain come shine”.
“How can a political gathering of both Christians and Muslims make a statement about the position of Christians in our constituency? Which among the key Christian APC bigwigs in our constituency was there? This is enough to show that such a gathering and statement is inconsequential and should be regarded as such”, they maintained.
“In view of that, we are gathered here in our thousands to tell the whole world that none of the Rt. Hon. Dr Yakubu Dogara’s kinsmen are against him politically to oppose or betray his political ideologies.”
He further pointed out that the National body of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) which is the supreme decision-making body for all Christians has taken a clear stand against the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the forthcoming Presidential election, and it is binding on all well-meaning Christians.
“So, we don’t know who these individuals are claiming to be Christians yet misrepresent, undermine and sabotage the decision of CAN, the supreme Christian Body. This is akin to Korah’s rebellion in the Bible (Numbers 16)”, he said.
He said Dogara’s decision to support Atiku Abubakar of the PDP in the 2023 general elections justified that he is not a religious bigot but a representative of peace, justice and inclusiveness which is in line with the teachings of Christian religion..
“Therefore, we, the 95 percent Christians of his constituency are solidly behind him and behind CAN, and will never support a same-faith ticket in the forthcoming presidential election”, Garba maintained.
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