Muslim/Muslim ticket will cause division in Nigeria  – CGN leaders warn

A Christian group under Christ Global Network (CGN) has warned political parties in Nigeria that same-faith ticket will further entrench national division as the preparation for 2023 General Election intensified.
Addressing the media as part of the group’s annual New Wine/Fresh Fire Conference in Sango Ota, Ogun State on Saturday, the Coordinator of the group who is also the Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church, Bishop Taiwo Akinola said members of CGN which is an umbrella body of several churches across the globe are all aware that 
the idea of a mono-faith candidature is being contemplated in some leading political circles presently. 
“But, as freeborn and bonafide citizens of this great country, Nigeria, we are deeply concerned about the potential consequences of such an arrangement. “Thus, we hereby speak up against it before it becomes too late. For the avoidance of doubt, Nigeria is a multi-religious country of about 220 million people. Hence, in order to be just to all the citizens and be seen to be so, noble-hearted politicians should see it as a moral duty to continue to avoid a mono-faith candidature, most especially at the presidential level,” he said.
He reasoned that it is a fact that political calculations sometimes necessitate very difficult decisions, but maintained that the group strongly advise all major political parties, APC, PDP, LP, NNPP etc., and their candidates that same-faith candidature is certainly not a route to take at all in today’s Nigeria, where religion is one of the major dividing lines, alongside ethnicity and region. 
Akinola said, “for instance, it should be well taken that a Muslim-Muslim ticket would unwittingly fuel a further cry against the real or preconceived allegations of an Islamization agenda, and furthermore exacerbate our prevalent political and religious crisis. It is just commonsensical and a patriotic appreciation of Nigeria’s religious diversity, therefore, to totally avoid it. 
“Even our perennial or present nation-wide security challenges are tainted with religious coloration in this country. We use this medium to strongly urge all major political parties in Nigeria, therefore, to please strike a balance along religious lines for united and peaceful co-existence in our land.”
He expressed that it is very sad that in this clime that some politicians are only thinking of strategies to win elections, not minding if they lose the country in the end.
He wondered why should anyone or any political entity think of complicating the  already bad, age-long issues, just because such candidate want to win an election, stating that peace and unity in Nigeria should be the priority of all Nigerians, not winning elections at all costs. 
Besides, the clergy noted that the level of distrust and suspicion between the diverse regional and religious groups in Nigeria has presently become very high as to make any same-faith candidature unwholesome, immoral and unwise for any political party and/or presidential candidate to play with. 
He stated, “I must say that we are very much relieved and highly enthused to note that quite a number of fair-minded Muslims and other patriotic Nigerians have equally spoken out plainly to condemn any Muslim-Muslim ticket contemplation, knowing that such could not be in the best interest of our dear country Nigeria. And, it is a wise thing to do for all of us to commend and to emulate this gesture.
“We can say it without fear of contradictions that some of those pushing this inconsiderate agenda are doing so for their selfish ends only, not because they wish their candidates or even the nation well. To my mind, no patriotic Nigerian will vote for an arrangement that could spell doom for the country. Moreover, it is even a crass assumption to think that any normal Christian will even contemplate to vote for an Islamic mono-candidature in today’s Nigeria.
“With all these, our candid advice is that all political parties should jettison all MUSLIM-MUSLIM or CHRISTIAN-CHRISTIAN permutations. It is insensitive, immoral, unjust, grossly disrespectful to the faith of others, conspicuously suspicious, and tendencious to violence, and we pray it fails.”
Akinola said that any presidential candidate that succumbs to a mono-faith ticket will find out too late that he has unwittingly increased the numerical strength of his opponents, and has equally invigorated zestful anger in the hearts of other ordinary citizens of Nigeria.
According to the CGN coordinator “no region or religion has the monopoly of qualified people who have the capabilities to serve as presidents or running mates to presidential candidates. Everyone in Nigeria is important, and every religious choice is honored in our secularist constitution. What is not acceptable in the current political permutations is the entrenched domination of one over the other. 
“In particular reference to our present volatile situation on many fronts, and given the fact that the current presidency is headed by a Northern-Fulani-Muslim, it is just fair for all respectable political parties to do a South/North candidacy, combined with Christian/Moslem or Muslim/Christian pairing as we prepare for 2023 elections.” 
He charged political parties to strictly prevail on their followers to avoid any form of thuggery, hooliganism and malevolence. 
The clergy added that it is a critical role of the Church of Jesus Christ in any geographical delineation to positively impact her system of governance, growth and development, and to clearly contribute towards the delivery of other social outputs that are crucial to nation building, hence the group’s voicing out at this critical period. 
“Christians are positive necessities in the communities of men, and as such, we must be involved in the socio-political development of our nation. Without fear of overemphasis or contradictions, we hereby urge all patriotic Nigerians to get their PVCs, and be ready to vote as of a civic duty at the appropriate time. We also encourage those who have the calling to go into politics among us not to hold back,” he stated.