Some Christian clerics on Wednesday, attended the official unveiling of Kashim Shettima, former Borno State governor by the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.
The presence of the Christian clerics at the event held at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre in Abuja, was ostensible to give the impression that not all Christians were opposed to the party”s controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Nigerians have criticised Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate for picking a fellow Muslim as his running mate. Christian groups had also vowed not to vote for APC because of the development. But Tinubu had insisted that he did not pick Shettima for religious reasons but on the ground of competence.
A cross section of journalists assigned to cover the official event watched in amusement as pastors and Bishops from different Christian denominations showed up at the venue.
Their presence seemed to cause a stir as onlookers and guests stared hard at them as they walked into the reception of the Musa Yar’Adua Centre dressed in their cassocks and habits, amid heavy security at the venue.
Earlier, the media had been awash with reports from religious bodies urging Christian leaders to boycott the unveiling to drive home the point of their grievances.
Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Christians Association of Nigeria’s President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, had a few weeks ago condemned the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.
He stated, “The Christian Association of Nigeria has stated it clearly that the situation in the country now is not suitable for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“It is up to Nigerians to accept or reject. Today’s Nigeria is not the same as when Nigerians voted Abiola-Kingibe ticket which was eventually annulled. Our prayers are with Nigeria and Nigerians,
In a related development, CAN General Secretary, Rev. Joseph Bade Daramola, in a statement, also considered the choice of Shettima “as a declaration of war.”
CAN President (Youth Wing), Belusochukwu Enwere, also confided in our correspondent on Tuesday night that no member will be there either to protest or show any form of solidarity for the party’s stance on the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Enwere said that the body was still consulting and had not taken a position.
He said, “Well, we are still meeting at our level in CAN. Consultations are still ongoing on what we need to do and the kind of candidate we want. For now, we are weighing all the presidential candidates irrespective of religion. For now, let us just say we are indecisive at the moment,” he said.
