Muhammadu Buhari, former head of state, says he is
keeping an open mind about the possibility of picking
a Muslim as his running mate if he gets the
presidential nomination of the All Progressives
Congress (APC).



The issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket is seen as a
potential setback for the APC in the election because
of the increasingly political nature of religion in recent
years.

Buhari, in particular, is perceived as an extremist and
his likely combination with another Muslim for the
presidential election is considered in some quarters
as too sensitive.

But in an interview with TheCable, Buhari, a retired
major-general, said he had demonstrated to Nigerians
that he is not a fundamentalist and “there is nothing
more I can do”.

He said: “Nigerians will always uncover impossible
room for manoeuvre for politicians. I had to face one
of the governors during one of our party’s meetings
[over the issue of religion].


“In 2003, I chose Chuba Okadigbo as my running
mate. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. In
2007, I picked Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. He was a Roman
Catholic. He was an Igbo. And in 2010, I chose even a
pastor. Pastor Tunde Bakare.

“Honestly, what do Nigerians want me to do? If they
don’t believe I’m not a fundamentalist, what else can I
do?”

He likened his situation to that of Moshood Abiola, a
southern Muslim, who picked Babagana Kingibe, a
northern Muslim, as running mate in the 1993
presidential election.

The Muslim-Muslim ticket went on to win an election
that is still considered by many as the most credible in
Nigeria’s history.

“I have not absolutely closed my mind to picking a
Christian or Muslim as running mate if I get the ticket.
Because I firmly believe that Nigerians, having gone
through what they have gone through, realise it is not
a matter of religion, but a matter of Nigeria.

“And the main religions, Christianity and Islam, they
know and they believe in the almighty God. The
question of stealing and short-changing people in the
name of religion should stop,” he said.

He made reference to the 1961 northern house of
assembly election, when Ibrahim Imam, a Kanuri
Muslim from Borno, won an election to represent
Tivland, a Catholic domain in the middle belt, after
being sponsored by Joseph Tarka, the leading Tiv
politician then.

“This new phenomenon of religion is another
blackmail political confusionists in Nigeria are
bringing to the fore,” he said.

He also said religion cannot be an issue if he wins
APC’s ticket and goes ahead to win the presidential
election, because of the background of many political
leaders from the south-west.

The wives of Bola Tinubu, APC national leader; Oyo
governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Lagos governor, Babatunde
Fashola; Ogun governor, Ibikunle Amosun; and former
APC interim chairman, Bisi Akande, are all Christians,
Buhari pointed out.

“For goodness sake, the children of these political
leaders were bred and brought up by Christian
mothers. You think those people, wherever they
participate, they will bring a religious issue? What
kind of people are we? Nigerians will always bring
something to cause confusion while we are trying to
stabilise the system,” he said.

Fashola, a Muslim, is one of those touted to be his
running mate, although TheCable also reported
recently that former attorney-general of Lagos, Yemi
Osinbajo, a professor of law and a pastor in the
Redeemed Christian Church of God, is being
considered as well.

Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, is also on
the cards.


www.thecable.ng/exclusive-interview-im-opposed-muslim-muslim-ticket-says-buhari

#folds hands

I am neither in support of Buhari nor GEJ for now. I am only in support of a better Nigeria and to support better Nigeria we need to look beyond religion or political party. Think and vote wisely: our vote is our POWER! my 50kobo to Nigerians.

I don't care which religion our leader's is from, my concerns is two God fearing people's that will deliver justice and good government that will be corruption free. If they like, let them be 2ifa priest but all I care is for betterment of Nigerian's