From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Northern group Arewa People’s Coalition has planned a Million Man March in support of Kashim Shettima, the running mate of APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ahead of next year’s presidential poll.
The group’s planned million man march comes on the heels of an alleged recent sponsored Lagos protest by some stakeholders and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against the contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 election.
According to the group, the demonstrators, who paraded themselves under the umbrella of a Coalition of APC Stakeholders Network and Southwest Supporters of Tinubu to ask the running mate and former Borno Governor Alhaji Kashim Shettima to step down and be replaced with a Christian to have a balanced ticket, is outrightly rejected.
“The choice of Senator Shettima is a product of consultations across the 36 states for a better Nigeria and this amongst many reasons is why we insist the Tinubu/Shettima ticket is far from anything religion”, the group stated.
It advised that instead of protesting and calling for the impossible now, the protesters should sheath their swords and meet party leaders to discuss the ways to address their grievances in the interest of the progress of the party.
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The Arewa People’s Coalition, which stated this in a statement signed by the Chairman, Mal Usman Abdullahi Fagge, said it considered the protest as the handiwork of mischief makers and enemies of progress working against the chances of the ruling party to win the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.
While explaining the need to jettison ethnic and religious sentiments in the choice of leaders across all tiers of governance, the group noted: ” Seeking the replacement of a validly nominated running mate, whose name has been duly submitted to INEC is not only ridiculous but also disturbing considering the fact that they are acclaimed members and stakeholders of the party.
The statement added: “We want the protesters to know that the party; APC flagbearer and former Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose Senator Shettima on grounds of experience, Merit, competence and ability to deliver good governance and not any religious consideration.
“We want them to know that in developed countries, people elected into political offices are most often on basis of merit, track records of performance and ability to work and ensure good governance and this is what is expected here in Nigeria and APC is setting the pace for others to follow in future.
“When they posited that the only obstacle between APC presidential candidate and the presidency in 2023 is his choice of Muslim-Muslim Ticket they failed to understand that Nigerians are wiser to know the difference between mediocrity and capacity.
“There is no attempt by APC or its presidential candidate to create an atmosphere for one religion to dominate the political structure and widen the gap of mistrust and destroy the delicate sense of tolerance cultivated over the years.”