http://www.newsportng.com.ng Northern Nigeria’s Front for Equity and Good Governance, has condemned the clamour for Muslim-Muslim ticket as guarantee to win Northern votes in the forth coming presidential election.
The President, Northern Nigeria’s Front for Equity and Good Governance, Comrade Zakariya Abdul’aziz, made this known on Friday, during a Press Conference in Kaduna said, few voices are trying to overheat the polity in an attempt to neglect the critical aspect of justice, equity and fairness for nation building.
He sressed that While the group believe in competence, it need to also be stressed that as a result of the perceived attempt to neglect the critical aspect of justice and fairness, some few voices are trying to overheat the polity on the ground of religion and ethnicity and other differences.
“We find it very divisive and careless for some persons to say that the choice of 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 divisive.” He added.
Zakariya further stressed that: “The position is not only incorrect but attempt to mislead the good people of the region into thinking that religion or ethnicity is the major determining factor for the voting pattern of the North. Again, such very unfortunate voices seem to destroy the foundation of Unity oneness and equity which the founding fathers of the region toiled for.
“It is our strong view that the 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. Our stand has always been that the North is known to be at the forefront promoting inclusive Politics in the country. Despite some challenges, the North always emerged exceptional in expressing itself as a nationalistic region.
“As a group,we are 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 candidate and their Running Mate.” He said.
The group called on political and religious leaders, to demonstrate appropriate patriotism and make necessary sacrifices to maintain peace and stability in the country by insisting on fairness for a prosperous Nigeria.
“The North has done justice and fairness to other parts of the country; it is therefore imperative that such should be seen within it in terms of equal opportunities to all. We have no doubts in our minds that our leaders are mindful of this and do not have to wait to be served a reminder to do the needful.
“While we appeal for calm and decorum on the part of all , citizens and leaders alike, we reiterate our call to religious, Political traditional and Community Leaders in the North to bring their voices to the fore in stopping the very toxic narrative by a few selfish voices who are bent on creating divisive tendencies in the northern region.
“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.” He concluded, on Muslim-Muslim ticket
