National Chairman of APC Youth Progressive Forum, Ukkasha Hamza Rahama, addressing newsmen at the Correspondents' Chapel Secretariat, Bauchi
By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
A group of youths under the auspices of the APC Youth Progressive Forum, has called on the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to pick a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara as his running mate in the 2023 election.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Correspondents’ Chapel Secretariat, Bauchi on Tuesday, the National Chairman of the group, Ukkasha Hamza Rahama, said that in a multicultural and secular country like Nigeria, it will be in the interest of equity and fairness for all interest groups to be considered in leadership.
According to him, the choice of Dogara, who is in his fourth term as member representing Dass/Bogoro/Tafawa Balewa in the House of Representatives, as Vice Presidential candidate will douse tensions in the country.
He said that the hurdle before the APC after its presidential primaries is the challenge of picking the party’s running mate from Northern Nigeria, saying that Dogara’s choice will balance the ticket especially with “long ugly” political narratives of Muslim President and Christian vice President or otherwise.
He pointed out that failure of Tinubu to pick a northern Christian will not only be unfair but will spell danger for the party as Nigerians will not be convinced to vote for it in the general elections.
Rahama said: “The emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our party candidate has open another political discussions and to strike the balance, Tinubu and the leadership of party should consider the choice of the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara as vice President.
“In a secular and multicultural country like Nigeria, it is given that broad considerations should be made to accommodate all interest groups in leadership for equity and fairness not only to be done but be seen to have been done.
“This form the basis of our decision to address this Press Conference to calm the nerves and draw the attention of our great Party to prioritise justice, fairness and equity to guide their selection of the vice Presidential Candidate.
“The subject of our consideration of Dogara as a good material for Tinubu is not ceaded along his tribe nor his religion but his political wealth of experience as one of the outspoken legislature and built relationships as the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives. Though, religion has forced itself into the affairs of Governance in Nigeria instead of credibility,competency and delivery hence the urgent to take it out of the business of the Government.
“Many are of the opinion that, since Tinubu is a Muslim from the Southern part of the country, it is expected that for the APC to have a balanced ticket which it would take to the general elections to convince Nigerians to vote for it, that it is only right for the party to balance the presidential ticket with a Christian from the northern part of Nigeria.
“The arguments for Muslim Muslim or Muslim Christian Vice President from the North should not be a subject of discussion but let place emphasis on credibility and competency of who becomes our vice President to compliment Tinubu’s competency for Peace and Unity to reign in Nigeria.”
He added that, “The choice of Yakubu Dogara as Vice President will send the party’s message across that it is not just for all Nigerians but that it is sensitive to the demand for equity by all sections of the country. Taking this position would further boost the chances of the party at the general elections as Christians from both the southern and northern parts of Nigeria would not feel allienated from the APC because of the VP factor while Muslims from all parts of the country would also have a sense of belonging in the party because of faith of the presidential candidate.
“This seems to be the party’s best bet to winning the 2023 elections as any other consideration would spell danger for the party at the polls United and strong especially with the former Vice President of Nigeria and the PDP Presidential ticket riden a balance ticket. The APC should not take slide chances to avoid mistakes of not picking the likes of Dogara who’s acceptability and popularity in the North is unwavering.”
According to him, it would have been good to have a repeat of what happened in 1993 where religion and tribal sentiments did not form the basis of choices during elections “but the feasibility of such in today’s Nigeria is the real question and a subject of great concerns knowing fully our baby democracy has been twisted along tribes and religion.”
He added that this make Dogara’s choice an exceptional one to consolidate Nigeria as an entity since he is a bonified son of the North East and a Nigerian who never prioritizes religion and tribal sentiments in discharging his functions.
Rahama said: “This is the spirit behind such government policies as federal character and equitable representation and distribution of resources. The APC cannot at this time, afford to take the unnecessary risks that come with an unbalanced ticket given the complexity of Nigeria and the tightness of the current race for the presidency.
“As it is, not only is the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar formidable but there are some third forces that may either spring surprises or vitiate the chances of the two major parties in their traditional strongholds.
“Kwankwaso’s NNPP for instance is bound to reduce the votes of the APC in its traditional strong hold in the North-West while Peter Obi of the Labour Party may do the same to the PDP in its South-East forte. So the two major parties need to tread carefully to maximise their advantages as this is not the time for risk taking.
“Luckily, for the APC it has people that can be paired with Bola Tinubu which can add value to the presidential ticket and the foremost so far is the former Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt.HonYakubu Dogara.”
