By Yemi Monday
Move to adopt a consensus Presidential candidate to defeat the All Progressive Congress (APC) same faith ticket of Bola Ahmed Tinubu-Kashim Shettima has taken a new dimension as Northern Christians, Muslims political leaders met over the weekend and agree to work together.
The Northern Christian leaders of APC, led by immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal, who met over the issue, therefore resolved to work with their Muslim counterparts in the North to adopt one of the Presidential Candidates in a bid to defeat the same faith Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the APC.
The resolution was contained in a communique jointly signed by former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and Minister of Water Resources during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mukhari Shagari and Yakubu Dogara.
The communique was the outcome of their consultative meeting and dialogue between Northern APC Christian Leaders and Northern Muslim Political Leaders held on Saturday October 8, 2022 at NAF Conference Centre, Kado Abuja.
The meeting was in line with the APC Northern Christian leaders communique issued on July 29, 2022 which solicited for an agreement between it and Muslim brothers and sisters across the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
At the end of the meeting, it was resolved that “we have agreed to work together with a view to fostering unity, peace and national cohesion.”
The communique noted that the meeting further resolved, “to work together and jointly adopt a pan-Nigerian political platform that will engender unity, inclusiveness and a sense of belonging among the Nigerian citizenry.
“Conscious of multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural configuration of Nigeria, we believe that a same faith ticket and voting along religious lines may trigger dangerous dimensions of negative consequences among our disparate peoples in ways that will hamper nation building.
“Consequently, we have agreed to channel our energies on matter that unite us more as a people instead of encouraging attacks on sensitives issues bothering on religion in the name of politics.”
The meeting concluded that, “In view of the above, we have agreed to set up a committee with the mandate to fashion out strategies for advancing the objectives set forth in this resolution.”
The dialogue and consultative meeting had in attendance the following persons: HE Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari; HE Boni Haruna; HE Abdulfatah Ahmed; Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara; Engr. Babachir David Lawal; Hon Damishi Sango and Senator Idris Ahmed Umar. Others are HE Yomi Awoniyi; HE Simon Achuba; Hon. Ummara Kumalia; Hon Baba Shehu Agaie; Air Marshall Monday Morgan (Rtd); General Ishaya Bauka (rtd); Mohammed Sani Sidi; Hon John B. Bawa and Dr. Iliya Stephen Msheliza.
The rest are Sarah Allabeh-nanpon; Shina Ibiyemi; Dr. Auwalu Anwar; Dr. Yakubu Tor-Agbidye; Hon Hassan Jonga; Hon Dauda Bundot; Alhaji Abdul Abubakar; Alhaji Musa Bello; Ishaku Pennap; Hon Leah Solomon; Mohammed Alhaji Yakubu; Professor Salamatu Machunga; Barrister Mela Nanghe SAN and Reverend Joseph Hayab
Also in attendance were Dr. Mrs Ruth Magaji; Reverend Innocent Solomon; Reverend Habila Tengya; Hon Haruna Mohammed and Hon Gwamna Dimas.
While HE Ibrahim Shehu Shema, HE Senator Adamu Aliero, HE Capt. Idris Wada and Senator Umaru Tsauri, Imam Sani Ishaq, Sheik Halliru Maraya, sent in apologies but said they agreed with all decisions and resolution of the meeting.