Northern Christian, Muslim leaders unite against APC same faith ticket… to adopt a consensus candidate

From David Kuvie Bauchi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Northern Christian leaders have 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 ticket (Muslim-Muslim) ticket of the APC.

The group is led by the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal,

Their resolution was contained in a communique jointly signed by a 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 dialogue and consultative meeting had in attendance the following persons:

Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari,Boni Haruna, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Yakubu Dogara, Babachir David Lawal, Damishi Sango, Senator Idris Ahmed Umar,Yomi Awoniyi

and Simon Achuba.

Others are Ummara Kumalia, Baba Shehu Agaie, Air Marshall Monday Morgan (Rtd), General Ishaya Bauka (rtd),Mohammed Sani Sidi, John B. Bawa, Dr. Iliya Stephen Msheliza, Sarah Allabeh-nanpon, Shina Ibiyemi and Dr. Auwalu Anwar.

The consultative meeting was also attended by Dr. Yakubu Tor-Agbidye, Hassan Jonga, Dauda Bundot, Abdul Abubakar, Musa Bello, Ishaku Pennap, Leah Solomon, Mohammed Alhaji Yakubu, Professor Salamatu Machunga,  Barrister Mela Nanghe SAN, Reverend Joseph Hayab, Dr. Mrs Ruth Magaji, Reverend Innocent Solomon, Reverend Habila Tengya Haruna Mohammed and

Gwamna Dimas.

While Ibrahim Shehu Shema, Senator Adamu Aliero, 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.

According to the communique issued at the end of the meeting led by Dogara and Lawal, those on attendance agreed to work together with a view to fostering unity, peace and national cohesion.

They also agreed 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,” the communique stated.

“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.

“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”