By AUSTINE TSENZUGHU, Bauchi –
As the controversy over All Progressive Congress (APC) continues on an APC Presidential Muslim candidate choosing a Presidential Muslim running mate, Hon. Jibrin Adamu, a public commentator has described the development as another regional rhetoric. He spoke to our North-East Editor, Austine Tsenzughul.
At different fora, you have described the APC ‘s Muslim-Muslim ticket at presidential level as regional rhetoric, why and are you not from the north?
“I am from the Northeast of Nigeria. And let me add that for the second time Atiku Abubakar is being a presidential candidate since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999. And maybe the only possible chance for the Northeast to produce a president. Not withstanding, who becomes the president of Nigeria within this period. The Northeast has always actively participated in the making of past presidents, irrespective of our ethnic, tribal, religious and social sentiments, we do vote. We voted President Muhammadu Buhari as our president. After the presidential primaries, a new political dawn was opened. Not surprising though, having Atiku from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC, from Northeast and Southwest respectively, the need for a Muslim-Muslim ticket is inevitable because the born-to-rule Northwest political calculation”.
“Therefore, the advocates of Muslim-Muslim ticket should be forgiven, because 2023-2027 presidential arrangement must ensure the inclusion of the power that be, the almighty political Northwest. The PDP presidential candidate deliberately nominated and chose South-South to deputies him from a Christian minority area. This is because the PDP presidential candidate is not interested in Christian majority votes. He has succeeded in balancing the political equation and to ensure politics of inclusiveness. The presidential candidate of the ruling APC on his own nominated and chose a Muslim running mate from the sitting president’s home state but still not comfortable, as far as I know. He will go for another person for no liberal reasons.
Sir, what is wrong with having Muslim-Muslim at Aso Villa, are they not qualified Nigerians?
“What is wrong with this is that his choice is an obvious indication that, Muslims from other zones do not belong to the ruling class or not qualify to produce a running mate. Yes they are Nigerians.Yes, they could be qualified. But the presidency should not be concentrated in one zone as if others don’t exist or can’t perform.There should be a liberal spread of power to zones, since each zone is not independent of others. We have intellectuals and intelligent persons all over zones and across the nation. Apart from this, the choice of a Vice President to Tinubu and APC is from the sitting president’s home state”.
“This also means that President Muhammadu Buhari wants to remain in power. It is a continuity of his unfinished business at Aso Villa. We are not yet ripe for this type of politics. Nigeria does not belong to one person,.family, local government, state or region”.
You seem to lay more emphasis on Dogara at a time when religious sentiments is gaining upper hand among some Nigerians in-officially declared?.
“Dogara is certainly a unique person. Of all the 4 times he contested, he had always defeated his aspirants and co-contestants for same position. And of course, his fellow candidates have always been Muslims. It will interest you to know that, Dogara has never been dragged before any election petition authority for breach of electoral law. His victories have not been accidental, but deliberate due to his good deals to his people. This is who he is”.
“The other non qualified minorities were said to have been proposed for the position of a presidential running mate.They are Rt.Hon.Yakubu Dogara,House of Representatives, Governor Lalong of Plateau state and Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Dogara and Mustapha are from the Northeast while Lalong is from North central. The 3 have good political antecedents. Of the 3, I am not conversant with Lalong and Mustapha’s political track record.
“Dogara, as far as good reasoning is concerned, Nigerians should appreciate the fact that, he has been elected 4 times to the House of Representatives by his constituents without opposition. And his constituency is 75 per cent Muslims dominated,while Dogara is from a minority ethnic group”.
He has been elected 4 times to the House of Representatives. What does that translate into?
“Having been elected 4 times means Dogara is a Statesman and a visionary leader that is accepted and loved, not only by his constituents, but by Nigerians and beyond. Dogara is from Bauchi South Senatorial zone and from a minority Christian ethnic group known as Basayi”.
Who is really Yakubu Dogara?
“The man Yakubu Dogara is a people oriented politician who was elected as the Speaker, House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. By virtue of been elected by his fellow lawmakers, who represented their people, means he was elected by Nigerians to the Speakership for 4 years. And within these years, he displayed his good leadership qualities and there were no rancour among his colleagues,and no stand-offs between the Reps members and the presidency. His leadership ensured the 3 arms of government did their business according to constitutional specification.
“Again, when Boko Haram was battling the people of Northeast of Nigeria, hunger, starvation, illiteracy, deprivation, unemployment, and under-development, the man Dogara stood with them. Dogara’s stand, connection, love for his people, and political wisdom has given birth to what is today known as the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC). NEDC is today providing succour to short and long term solutions the above mentioned painful deprivations hitherto experienced by the people from this region”.
Sir, can you shade more light on what is wrong with Muslim Muslim presidential running mate?
“Everything is wrong with Muslim-Muslim ticket, and I mean everything. Nigeria is a secular state, inclusiveness creates that sense of belonging, ownership, harmony, love, good quality progress, development and reduces marginalization and discordant voices at local and national levels. Acceptability and oneness lead to peace. After all, the religions of Christianity and Islam are recognized by Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended,and it has settled the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket that seems to be a matter for serious discourse. This religions are on same page with each other,where they have enjoined us to love your neighbor as yourself. Besides, Nigerians are not in search of a saint, but a just and fair minded leader. A person whose governance will have a human face and heart and actions. These are the only things Nigerians want”.
If our 1999 Constitution recognizes Christianity and Islam, and has gone on to allow for Federal Character, why must APC not recognize the millions of Christians in Nigeria?
“This Muslim-Muslim ticket could be translated to mean a marginalization of Christians. At the time, late M.K.O. Abiola chose Babagana Kingibe, religious sentiments was not like what it is today”.
“I am not prophesying and certainly, not warning nor suggesting anything bad for us, Nigerians. I am only looking at the immense benefits of politics of inclusiveness. I am merely echoing what the Constitution says, if we sincerely value its contents. What I am saying is for the good of all Nigerians,and those who have religions. There is every need for oneness, unity, togetherness, and a person who belongs to a constitutionally recognized religion, lover of Nigeria. I am in no way an advocate of doom. After all,if the nation prospers,all of us will be happy and proud of it. This is why everything is wrong with Muslim-Muslim ticket”.
You would want Dogara as the APC presidential running mate?
“Yes, why not? Is he not a Nigerian,is he not qualified? Is he not from a zone that ought to produce a president or Vice President? Let me educate you,winning election 4 times consecutively without court or tribunal interference says a lot about him. I am ready to canvass for any Nigerian(s) who has achieved such a feat. Among the 3 being contemplated for the VP post, Dogara is more qualified. He is young, energetic, intelligent, eloquent. Knows Nigeria well enough to even be the president, he is a goal getter, has Nigerian experience,and humble, you can trace his fore fathers’ roots ,all within Nigeria. Dogara, by all measures,is the kind of person Nigerians are looking for at this crucial time of national rebirth having been torn apart by insecurity, poverty, under-development, religious bigotry, general untold hardship”.
“I may not be from the northeast of Nigeria, may be a Muslim or Christian,may not be a northerner, all these don’t add up to what Nigerians want. What is germane here is getting somebody that can assist in truly pushing for good governance, and patriotic influential politicians MUST NOT fail to practice politics of inclusiveness”.
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