The Tinubu Support Group (TSG), Bayelsa chapter, has opined that Nigerians need to commend the All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than condemning it over its decision to run a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket for the 2023 presidential election.
DAILY REPORT NG observes that there has been controversy over the choice of a Muslim, former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, who is also a Muslim.
Reacting to the condemnations that have trailed the development, Bayelsa State Coordinator of TSG, Ebitimi Amgbare, who spoke with DAILY POST in a telephone interview on Thursday, said although it was a tough decision to make, it was a move to spring the country out of religious and ethnic sentiment in politics.
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According to him: “Tinubu is a man that doesn’t shy away from hard decisions, and he knows this particular one is sure of making Nigeria a great nation”
”Some persons are just making these things look like we have done what is evil rather than condemn the party we should be applauded for doing something to move Nigeria out of religious and ethnic sentiment in politics.
”Those grumbling are in the minority group, and we are ready to engage them and let them know that we are not just in the election to win through the popular part but we are ready to take the rough part to achieve victory.
The former governorship candidate of ACN added: ”Whether Muslim -Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket is not the issue, the main issue is how we want to move the country forward. We can’t dwell in this religion or ethnic space of politics to decide our fate of leaders but the one that will be done on merit and competence.
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”This is the best decision for Nigeria at the moment, we oftentimes talk about other developed countries like America, Canada and the rest, do they do religion there or tribe? What they talk about are merit and competence, that is the way to go, if we don’t solve it now, are we going to leave it for our children to solve? We are taking the risk, APC is taking the risk, and Bola Tinubu is taking the risk because he knows that’s the right way to go. And at the end of the day, we will be able to market this ticket.
”30 years ago we tried to correct things and Nigerians came out on their numbers advocating for a change, but the military annulled that election. If we had succeeded with the JUNE 12 election Nigeria would have made great progress, and what we are talking about would be dealt with thirty years ago.
