Stop offering us money, stop using ‘clandestine ways’ to divide Christians, they tell him
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Another group of Northern Christians has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bola Tinubu its presidential candidate to stop using money, fake events, and false stories to cause division among Christians to retain power.
Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NORSCEF) Chairman Oyinehi Ejoga Inalegwu railed at the “the show of shame [of] the ruling party” in its “desperate efforts to attract public goodwill and acceptance, by engaging strange Christian groups for endorsement purposes.”
NORSCEF criticised both the APC and Tinubu, but doubled down on Tinubu, citing his efforts over the years to impose a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket on a multi-religious Nigeria despite opposition to it at every stage.
“NORSCEF is concerned that apart from the failure of the desire of the architects of the single faith ticket, to cause serious divisions in the forthcoming elections, APC has resorted to clandestine ways of causing division in the body of Christ, by recruiting hitherto unknown bodies in the Body of Christ to counter decisions taken by the umbrella body, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and its various organs.
“We warn APC to stop using monetary incentives to recruit and cause divisions among Christians, especially in the North,” Inalegwu said in statement.
Tinubu’s historical attempts at imposing Islam on Nigeria
“In 2011, Bola Ahmed Tinubu sought Muslim-Muslim ticket with Atiku Abubakar and it was rejected.
“In 2015, he again, sought for a Muslim-Muslim ticket with President Muhammadu Buhari and it was again rejected.
“Both Atiku and Buhari from the North, know that having a Muslim from the South [as Vice President] would not have added any electoral advantage.
“In December 2021, Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with a group in Abuja and sold the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“We warned that every patriotic presidential aspirant should avoid same faith ticket to avoid polarisation of the nation further along religious lines.
“Before commencement of the primaries, NORSCEF again warned presidential aspirants against the one faith ticket in a Nigeria begging for unity, inclusiveness, fairness and justice.”
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APC’s ‘show of shame’
“Because there was a long-term goal and a purpose to be accomplished, APC went ahead with the single faith venture, with the aim of riding on the wings of divisive religious politics to victory,” NORSCEF added.
“[We deplore] the show of shame the ruling party is involved in, following desperate efforts to attract public goodwill and acceptance, by engaging strange Christian groups for endorsement purposes.
“We frown at the publicity they use to their advantage, to make public ridicule of Christian bodies, particularly in the North, for the purpose of causing disaffection, just to win election.
“We all know as Christians, Muslims, and people of other faith, that unity, fairness, justice, and inclusiveness will engender national progress, rather than the war of divisive religious, political game, intended through the instrumentation of same faith ticket.
“Christian and Muslim faithful should disappoint divisive self-seeking politicians, who want to capitalise on our religious differences to gain political power.”
“The Church is called upon to be circumspect, vigilante with the antics of politicians. Don’t sell the Church and don’t be used to cause disaffection, remember that earthly position and wealth mean nothing before the Almighty, before Whom, we will stand.
“We pray earnestly for a peaceful campaign and election.”
