2023: Northern Nigeria political leaders of Christian, Muslim extract to unite against APC’s same faith candidacy
Northern Christian leaders led by the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal, have resolved to work with their Muslim counterparts in the north to adopt a consensus candidate against the All Progressives Congress (APC) same faith ticket.
The resolution was contained in a communique jointly signed by a former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and Minister of Water Resources during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo Honourable Mukhari Shagari and Honourable Yakubu Dogara.
According to Dailyflagshipmedia, the communique was the outcome of a consultative meeting and dialogue between Northern APC Christian Leaders and Northern Muslim Political Leaders held on Saturday October 8, 2022 at NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
The dialogue and consultative meeting had in attendance: HE Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari; HE Boni Haruna; HE Abdulfatah Ahmed; Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara; Engr. Babachir David Lawal; Hon Damishi Sango; Senator Idris Ahmed Umar; HE Yomi Awoniyi; HE Simon Achuba; Hon. Ummara Kumalia; Hon Baba Shehu Agaie; Air Marshall Monday Morgan (Rtd); General Ishaya Bauka (rtd); Mohammed Sani Sidi; Hon John B. Bawa; Dr. Iliya Stephen Msheliza; Sarah Allabeh-nanpon; Shina Ibiyemi.
Others are, Dr. Auwalu Anwar; Dr. Yakubu Tor-Agbidye; Hon Hassan Jonga; Hon Dauda Bundot; Alhaji Abdul Abubakar; Alhaji Musa Bello; Ishaku Pennap; Hon Leah Solomon; Mohammed Alhaji Yakubu; Professor Salamatu Machunga; Barrister Mela Nanghe (SAN); Reverend Joseph Hayab; Dr. Ruth Magaji; Reverend Innocent Solomon; Reverend Habila Tengya; Hon Haruna Mohammed and Honourable Gwamna Dimas
While HE Ibrahim Shehu Shema, HE Senator Adamu Aliero, HE Capt. Idris Wada and Senator Umaru Tsauri, Imam Sani Ishaq, Sheik Halliru Maraya, sent in apologies but said they agreed with all decisions and resolution of the meeting.
The communique reads: “The APC Northern Christian leaders have in line with their communique issued on July 29, 2022, today met with some Muslim brothers and sisters across the 19 northern states and the FCT and resolved as follows:
“That we have agreed to work together with a view to fostering unity, peace and national cohesion.
“To work together and jointly adopt a pan-Nigerian political platform that will engender unity, inclusiveness and a sense of belonging among the Nigerian citizenry.
“Conscious of multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural configuration of Nigeria we believe that a same faith ticket and voting along religious lines may trigger dangerous dimensions of negative consequences among our disparate peoples in ways that will hamper nation building.
“Consequently, we have agreed to channel our energies on matter that unite us more as a people instead of encouraging attacks on sensitives issues bothering on religion in the name of politics.
“In view of the above, we have agreed to set up a committee with the mandate to fashion out strategies for advancing the objectives set forth in this resolution,” They concluded.
