A socio-political group, Battalions for Jagaban Initiative, while pledging its support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, in the forthcoming general election in 2023, stated that the decision of the ruling party to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket was a welcome development, citing the capacity and capabilities of its flagbearers.
In a statement, the President of the organisation, Mr Chris Onuh, said, “We welcome the decision of the APC to field Mr Bola Tinubu and Mr Kashim Shettima as its flagbearers in the forthcoming general election. We also believe that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is in no way a bad idea and citizens and stakeholders should be more interested in the capacity and capabilities of the candidates rather than their religious affiliation because Nigeria is a secular state and not a theocracy.
“For these reasons, we as an organisation pledge to mobilise votes running into millions from every region across the nation for the presidential candidate of the APC, Mr Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.
“We have informed and instructed our over five million members scattered across the country to get their Permanent Voter Cards as well as their APC membership cards in preparation for the forthcoming Presidential election.”
The founder of the organisation, Mr Amos Omotade-Sparks, also commented on the controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket, stating that productive arguments ought to be raised based on the candidates’ capabilities and capacities, relying on their glorious antecedents rather than raising flimsy and watery arguments and points based on the same faith.
He said, “In a democratic community, and with Nigeria as a case study, it is impossible and unheard of that a country that recognises and gives room for several religious practices like Nigeria, would legislate to outlaw Christianity or any other religion.
“We, therefore, urge electorate to quit being wishful about politics and their desires, as this will not help the country.”
He added that Nigerians ought to get practical and serious about the future, and most importantly the future of the unborn children.
“BAJI as an organisation believes that Tinubu is the most capable candidate for the restructuring and the betterment of Nigeria as we acknowledge his capacity to bring nation-builders together. Hence, we are ready to give the most capable hands all the support there is,” he said.
He added, “It is true that God chooses leaders to bless a nation and as well as he chooses some to punish a nation. However, I am very sure that God has chosen Tinubu for the betterment of Nigeria and our organisation will play its role to make sure that it comes to light.”
