Author: Phlippages
A body known as the Northern Nigeria’s Front for Equity and Good Governance,has endorsed Plateau State Governor, Rt Hon. Simon Bako. Lalong, as running mate to the All Progressives Congress(APC) Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the interest of equity and justice.
President of the group, Zakariya Abdul’aziz who spoke at a press conference in Kaduna on Friday in company of Mr. Moses Ladan Auta, the General Secretary, said
“as a group, they were very concerned and disturbed by the utterances of some few voices that have attempted to push out their narratives ,using religion and ethnicity, under the guise of speaking for the North over the choice of political party candidates and their running mates.”
The group has frowned at the Muslim-Muslim ticket, said that it’s divisive, careless and callous for some persons to say that the choice of a Christian from the North as Vice Presidential candidate will not guarantee Northern votes for certain political parties.
“In particular, we find it very divisive, careless and callous for some persons to say that the choice of a Christian from the North will not guarantee Northern votes for certain political parties.For instance, they have brazenly and openly said that only the choice of a Muslim from the North as running mate to candidate of the ruling party can guarantee the votes of the North. In other words, they are saying that a Muslim-Muslim ticket is the only way to victory for the ruling party. This is misleading and very unfortunate,” they said
The group said it was a plot to mislead the good people of the rejoin in to thinking that religion and ethnicity are the determining factor for voting paytern in the North.
“To demonstrate how untrue such positions of religion are, one can give an example with the current leadership of the Northern Governors Forum which is chaired by the Governor of Plateau State Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong who happens to be a Christian amidst his colleagues that are majorly Muslims.”
“Despite that, he has led them well and enjoyed their full cooperation and support. Where then is the religious dichotomy coming from, It is our strong view that this argument is unfair and capable of portraying the North as being politically insensitive in the current effort to conclude the nomination exercise in some political parties.”
“For equity and fairness in handling sensitive issues that have a bearing on our peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity, inclusion should be our collective pursuit as against exclusion.We pray that God will guide us aright,” the group said.
