The contentious Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket put up by the All Progressives Congress, or APC, has drawn criticism from the Southern Nigerian Christian Vanguard, or SNCV.
Recall that the APC fielded Muslim candidates Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as its presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate, respectively, despite widespread opposition from Nigerians.
The National President of the Southern Nigerian Christian Vanguard, Most Rev. Isaac Nwaobia, said during the organization’s conference in Owerri that it would be a grave injustice for a Northerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari after eight years in office.
He said it would be a grievous harm to the country for another Northern to succeed Buhari.
“Muslim-Muslim ticket is really not the issue now. What we are saying is that it is unthinkable for another Northerner coming to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
“Where is the equity, where is the justice. A Southern should succeed Buhari in order to preserve the unity of the country.
“We need a southern candidate to win not minding the religious inclination. No Southern candidate should be condemned on the basis of religion,” he noted.
Nwaobia raised concerns over the level of insecurity in the country, noting that it was a major threat to the forthcoming elections.
“With the election just a few weeks away, the major threat now is insecurity. Nowhere is safe in the country- the air, land, sea, rail tracks and sacred places or worship are not spared. The government must rise to the occasion and take proactive measures towards guaranteeing the safety of the electoral process.
“We also insist that the candidates for the various political parties should focus on issue-based campaigns rather than depending on endorsements.
“Claims must not be vague but verifiable and measurable,” he further stated.
He said the group would form a concrete synergy “with the aim of electing credible leaders that will get Nigeria out from its position as the poverty capital of the world.”
