November 16, (THEWILL) – Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has met with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
The meeting, which was held on Wednesday, at CAN headquarters in Abuja, is the second leg of the CAN presidential interaction session.
Tinubu was accompanied to the meeting by his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Governor Abdulahi Ganduje of Kano State, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, and the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Others are former Abia State governor, Orji Uzo Kalu, former governor of Benue state, Senator George Akume and some party chieftains.
Speaking during the interactive session, Tinubu also assured them that his choice of Kashim Shettima, a Muslim, as running mate has nothing to do with religion.
He equally emphasised that the same way his administration did not discriminate against anyone either on basis of tribe, religion or gender as Lagos State Governor, he would not start such in office if elected president in 2023.
Tinubu said, “My belief in the need for secular government and faith-based organisations to work in unison is not something adopted recently to benefit my campaign.
“As Governor of Lagos, I partnered with Christians to improve lives and foster education. For instance, I returned mission schools to their owners, most of who are Christians.
“I instituted yearly Christian Denomination Service at the Governor’s residence as we approached the new year. This tradition continues in Lagos.
“More importantly, we fostered an atmosphere of religious tolerance and inter-faith collaboration. My cabinet was diverse and talented.
“In the exercise of government, I did not give a thought to whether a team member was Christian or Muslim, Yoruba, Igbo or Arewa.
“I have never lent myself to baseless prejudice and discrimination. To do so would be a recipe for failure in the governance of a diverse society and I am not a man that is familiar with failing.
“I never chased people out of Lagos nor made them feel unwanted. Under my administration Lagos welcomed all comers and continues to do so today.
“After me, Lagos has had one Muslim and two Christian governors. I may not be perfect. What human being is? But I am not a petty man secretly wedded to secret biases and prejudices.
“As such, I see all Nigerians as equals and as brothers and sisters in our national family. This means no one is inherently inferior or superior to anyone else, regardless of faith, place of origin, social status and gender. Anyone who does not hold this fair and equitable view, should not run for president in a country such as ours.”
On his choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate, Tinubu assured the Christian body that he made the best available choice at his disposal without recourse to religious sentiments.
“I did not choose Senator Shettima so that we could form a same faith ticket. The ticket was constructed as a same progressive and people- based ideology ticket.
“I offer a confession. I selected Senator Shettima thinking more about who would best help me govern. Picking a Christian running mate would have been politically easier. But the easy way is rarely the right one The selection of a running mate is at once a very momentous yet very intimate decision.
“Resting such a key decision on religious affiliation as the primary weight did not sit well with me. I am not saying there were not good and adequate potential running mates of the Christian faith.
“What I am saying is that the times we inhabit do not lend themselves to the good or adequate. We have urgent problems that lend themselves not to a Christian or Muslim solution. We need the best solution. Every time I thought about it, and I did think a lot; I came to the same conclusion: Kashim Shettima — His faith was immaterial.
“He is a brilliant man with superior intellectual capacity. He is studious and detailed oriented. Enjoying excellent organisation skills, Shettima fully understands the vital difference between governance and politics.
“This exceptionally gifted human being has humility of spirit, courage of his convictions and a strongly progressive world view in harmony with my own perspectives on government and its relationship to the governed.
“I trust the calibre of the man. I know the great lengths he went in fighting Boko Haram in his state. He did his best to protect the Christian community and rebuilt damaged churches.
“This man understands the value of our national diversity in all of its ramifications, including religious. He possesses the courage to stand up to those who would wreck that diversity and freedom.
“I know people have reacted harshly to my selection. They have done so without knowing the man or giving him or me a fair chance. The rumour that this is some plot to suppress the Christian community is untrue and unfortunate.
“I can no more suppress the Christians of this nation than I can suppress the Christians in my own household, my very family. You all know my wife is Christian and a pastor. My children are Christians. I can no more disown them and their choice of faith than I can disown myself. As a husband and father to Christian wife and children, hearing such allegations is hurtful”, he said.
Speaking further, he said that the Christian body has a great role as the moral compass of the society which he cherishes and will always support.
“You, as an organisation and as individual leaders of CAN, are entrusted as the watch person of the welfare of this society from a Christian perspective. Which means functioning in an atmosphere of charity, understanding, patience and wisdom.
“I understand the tremendous importance of your work and have nothing but the deepest respect for your selfless contributions to our national cause,” he added.
Responding, the leadership of CAN under new president Daniel Ukoh had presented a charter of demands and issues to the APC presidential candidate.
They demanded among others state police or a decentralized policing system, devolution of power to states, equal rights for all religions and their adherents, right to self-determination by all ethnic groups.
Others include right to control natural resources by communities that bear them, no to open grazing, and equitable electoral system that guarantees the right to vote and be voted for by all.
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