One must have read with keen interest the political imbroglio hitting the cyberspace about the recent decision by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in picking
Kashim Shettima as a running mate to its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The argument and divergent views mostly from religious groups, activist and political juggernauts from all angles made me understand that politicians have succeeded in instilling the culture of ethno-religious politics into our psyche. Consequently, our hope and aspiration for somebody to come to the rescue of this country from its current shambles is not possible anytime soon.
The APC out of fear of losing the presidential election and desperation to maintain its grip on power opted for the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket, which according to their calculation, will give them a better chance of winning the election even though people are sick and tired of their failed administration. It’s a known fact to every concerned and like-minded citizen of Nigeria regardless of religion, tribe, or region that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has undoubtedly failed woefully and there is no political calculation, analysis, and propaganda that will change this fact.
Besides, what strategy will the APC use to convince people to bring them back to power despite their failure for seven years? The same APC enjoyed unflinching and unalloyed support from the poor masses in every nook and cranny of this country regardless of religion or geopolitical zones. The problem of the Buhari administration’s failures alone will be their core impediment, not the Muslim-Muslim ticket. So, they have a herculean task of convincing the people ahead of them, which is not as easy as some people think.
Funny enough, some people were busy giving their selfish statistics on the possible outcome of the mouth-watering 2023 elections not knowing that people are wise enough to make decisions for themselves and not carried away by the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket.
On the other hand, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has failed to tell people exactly what they are planning to do in rescuing this country. They are merely making accusations about the religious mix-in APC candidature without even a second thought on the capacity and track record of Tinubu in Lagos while he was the governor of the state and that of Shettima in Borno state,
respectively.
More often than not, most PDP stalwarts think accusing APC of religious intolerance will help them secure more votes not knowing there is nothing like such as far people are concerned. The same PDP that failed to unite themselves as a result of desperation for power, where major stakeholders like Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Peter Obi and now going tough with Nyesom Wike to stay, is clamouring of uniting Nigeria. What an irony!
Also, looking at the bigger picture of the whole thing jestfully, it’s obvious that the top politicians and the elite are concerned less about religion or ethnicity let alone the poor masses out of ignorance to continue making so much noise to their neighbours, coworkers, and friends involved in counterarguments that lead to something else.
Regrettably, Peter Obi and Kwankwaso are mere political sycophants trying to use regional politics to sell themselves for either PDP or APC not knowing that the poor masses are full aware of their plans. That’s why these two people have become a threat to both PDP and the ruling APC. Besides, nobody is now talking about the level of unemployment and the perturbing ASUU strike that has kept students at home for five months and counting. People are now less concerned with the spate of banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram insurgency, and other criminal activities that have resulted in killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent people.
Whosoever chooses to vote for APC because of the Muslim-Muslim ticket rather than the clear competencies and capacity of the leading candidates to deliver should be considered a menace in society. The same thing with those going against them merely because of the aforementioned combination.
Religion, ethnicity, and geopolitical zones should not be the yardsticks for measuring the competency and capability of a candidate rather the implementation of projects based on track records in the areas of the economy, security, education, and infrastructure should be leading factors in selecting a particular candidate regardless of political party.
Mubarak Shuaybu Shelleng,
Yola, Adamawa state.