“Conscious of multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural Nigeria, we fear that voting along religious lines and using a same faith ticket may trigger dangerous dimensions of negative effects among our various peoples in ways that will impair nation building.”
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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.
A statement containing their determination was co-signed by Yakubu Dogara, and a former deputy governor of Sokoto State and minister of water resources under President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Mukthari Shagari.
The communiqué was the result of a consultative meeting and debate between northern Muslim political leaders and northern APC Christian leaders that took place on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at the NAF Conference Centre in 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.
Also in attendance were Dr. Auwalu Anwar, Sarah Allabeh-nanpon, Baba Shehu Agaie, Mohammed Sani Sidi, John B. Bawa, Dr. Iliya Stephen Msheliza, Shina Ibiyemi, and Air Marshall Monday Morgan (retired).
In addition to the aforementioned individuals, 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 and Reverend Innocent Solomon.
While Ibrahim Shehu Shema, Senator Adamu Aliero, Capt. Idris Wada, and Senator Umaru Tsauri sent letters of apology, they stated that they supported all of the meeting’s decisions and resolutions. Imam Sani Ishaq and Sheik Halliru Maraya also sent letters of apology.
The participants in the meeting, which was presided over by Dogara and Lawal, decided to cooperate in order to promote unity, peace, and national cohesion, according to the communiqué that was released following the meeting.
Additionally, they consented to collaborate and jointly embrace a pan-Nigerian political platform that will foster harmony, inclusivity, and a sense of community among Nigerians.
The statement added, “Conscious of multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural Nigeria, we fear that voting along religious lines and using a same faith ticket may trigger dangerous dimensions of negative effects among our various peoples in ways that will impair nation building.”
“As a result, we have decided to focus our efforts on matters that strengthen our bonds as a people rather than supporting attacks on delicate subjects like religion in the guise of politics.
“In light of the foregoing, we have decided to form a committee with the charge of developing plans for achieving the goals outlined in this resolution.”
