The Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria under the All Progressives Congress, has advised stakeholders in the APC to downplay religious and ethnic factors in the consideration and selection of the running mate for presidential candidate of the ruling party, Bola Tinubu.

The forum made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

Former Deputy Governor of Edo State and Chairman of the forum, Lucky Imasuen, who spoke for the ex-deputy governors, was accompanied by former Deputy Governor of of Bauchi State and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Abdulmalik Mahmood; the Secretary, Armaya’u Abubakar of Taraba State; Nkem Okeke of Anambra State; Ahmed Ibeto of Niger State; Abdullahi Gwarzo of Kano State; Bello Tukur of Adamawa State; and Tinubu’s deputy as Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro.

Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the APC, had emerged flag bearer of the ruling party on Wednesday at its Special National Convention.

Imasuen said, “FFDGN-APC, however, appeals to our presidential candidate, Tinubu, and the leaders and stakeholders of the party to consider first, core democratic ethos in arriving at a sensitive decision of a running mate for the APC ticket.

“We believe that Tinubu is comfortably competent enough to manage the complexities of Nigeria without rancour and de-emphasise primordial sentiments on the basis of religion or tribe by putting Nigeria first.”

The chairman said the forum salutes the “heroic spirit, vigour and tenacity of the national leader, which confirmed the belief in the power of the people.”


Imasuen also said the emergence of Tinubu as APC candidate had “sent jitters to the camp of the opposition party and they have realised the irreversible error committed to choosing a presidential candidate against the mood of the nation.”

According to him, with the emergence of Tinubu, the major opposition already had a premonition of defeat.

The forum also appealed to other presidential aspirants in the APC to see themselves as co-pilots of the ‘Tinubu 2023 Presidency Project’ and rally around the choice of the party.

The ex-deputy governors also appealed to some chapters of the APC where there are factions to “immediately reunite for a common purpose in the interest of Nigeria, as we have our eyes on the bigger ball.”

Imasuen noted that the forum has ex-deputy governors of all political parties, adding that there are groups within it based on party affiliations. According to him, the APC group had visited Tinubu while the Peoples Democratic Party group had also visited the presidential candidate of the opposition party, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

“We have more than 50 members from the APC. From all the parties, we are 112 in total,” he noted.

In his remarks, Pedro extended greetings from Tinubu to the forum.
Pedro said, “Let me first of all say I wholeheartedly endorse the speech just made by our chairman (that) we all respect. I have nothing to add except to say that having worked with Asiwaju for so many years; having being part of the campaign for the primary, I can say that he expresses his appreciation to all Nigerians and in particular, members of the APC who have made it possible for him to emerge as the candidate of the party for this election.

“Asiwaju wishes to extend to all Nigerians that help is on the way; that Nigeria would be stronger for it if he was elected as president; that the issue bedevilling our nation today, which he spoke about when he spoke briefly after his election, he is going to tackle them frontally. And Nigerians should be rest assured that with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency, the country would be greater for it.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/shun-religion-ethnicity-in-choosing-tinubus-running-mate-ex-deputy-govs-urge-apc/%3famp

All I know is that Tinubu will WIN

the biggest problem of Nigerians is ethnic bigotry.

Only Muslim-Muslim ticket can win APC general election

Because they want to push for Muslim-Muslim ticket

This same people that wouldn't tolerate a Christian-christian ticket. I remember how they made GEJ administration a living hell. Well gej messed up and was more focused on pleasing them

Muslim - Muslim ticket is scary. Go ask southern Kaduna people what they're facing

Islamisation agenda is real

change (na negative),next level (very bad) finish level loading.if you survive this next level of negative change and go ahead to vote for finish level. You know what the result will be.we have lost alot as a country by our choice of leaders be wise vote for peter obi

E Be many things walahi

Ok

I am not a Christian but I want Asiwaju to pick a Northern Christian as his running mate. That's Equity.

Time wasters ..

Power to the people
Nigerians about to feel fresh air .. this party of blood suckers and demonic tribal jingoist is talking

Apc is an evil Nigerians MUST UPROOT AND CLEANSE FROM OUR NATIONLA HISTORY

NORTH 2023!!

We no-go shun anything...Muslim-Christian tickets has been selling, but e reach Tinubu turn, they wants us to shun it...

So that they will achieve their Islamalization agenda, Una dey craze for head!!

Muslim-Muslim ticket is dead on Arrival already

Moferere:
All I know is that Tinubu will WIN

In Yoruba land

Not in Nigeria ..

Okay.

Hypocrisy is trying to promote what you will not take.


If you are a Christian and you are in APC, its time to sit down and check your head if it has not been hypnotized.


There is no witten rule on choosing running mates based on religion and ethnicity but if APC wants to turn the party to a muslim party, they should come out with their full chest and let Christians know.

The people supporting Tinubu have no love for even their own children. If you care about the future of kids you will make the right choices.

Choose wisely now!

Yes he will

It is in their blood!
They can’t escape the curse.
The reason they should be disgraced out of power!

Warri must have a functional port.
Enough of Tinubu and his tribalism.
Lagos is sooooo congested.
We want WARRI AND ONITSHA ATLANTIC TOO.

Yoruba people should please wise up oo...if Jesus is contesting presidential election if he's from the southwest or from northern state..Igbos won't vote for him... it's because Peter Òbí is Igbo that's y they keep claiming he's a good man on Twitter... someone that swear with his life that he wouldn't leave APGA ..he leave APGA leave PDP self..na that one u wan trust with presidency...Igbo people also knows that Peter Òbí is not trustworthy but because they want Igbo president that y they are claiming he's the right man

Noted

N

Atiku and tinubu are too old.

The political exigency that made PDP throw up an HE Atiku candidature against my reasonable expectation that PDP will give its ticket to an Igbo because of the huge investment Igbo made in PDP and acceptance of PDP in SE since 1999, will compel APC to be strategic in its choice of VP too.

Muslim-Muslim ticket was foisted on APC by PDP so blame PDP if we end up with a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Our next President and Vice President will be Islamic faithfuls.

Moferere:
All I know is that Tinubu will WIN

In your village not in South south, south east and not in north or north central. A sell out of his fellow southerner can't smell aso-rock