http://www.newsportng.com.ng Group of clerics based in North-East Geo-political zone have called on Nigerians to vote leaders on the basis of capacity and competency and not religion.
The clerics, who threw their weights behind the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket observed that the absence of leadership ,bad governance and poverty are parts of the major factors why most Nigerians are falling back to either religious or ethnic considerations for Electing Leaders.
“It is dangerous for Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some Churches to preach against Muslim-Muslim Ticket on the basis of religion.This no doubt is not only overheating the polity,but already creating acrimony between our
Muslim brothers and Christians”.It stated.
The group,which stated this in a press statement made available to Kaduna Journalists today asked Nigerians to only vote for people with proven track records of good Leadership in public offices such as ;the former Governor of Lagos State and APC presidential Flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate , former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima.
The group in the statement signed by Reverend Timothy Bwala however said ,”As clerics from the North-East,we can tell Nigerians that Shettima is though a Muslim ,he has open mind to tolerate christians.”
It stated further:”We have studied all the political parties, their candidates and running mates and discovered that the Tinubu/Shettima ticket , despite being Muslim -Muslim Ticket is the best that could return Nigeria to path of sustainable progress and development .
“Nigeria is a country blessed with fertile arable land for farming and natural as well as human resources that could be harnessed to address the soaring problems of unemployment and insecurity challenges .
“We have prayed ,but only prayers can’t do the magic .We must work hard and participate in the electoral process if we must get it right this time.”
While noting that in developed countries such as; United States and Great Britain which are predominantly Christians, issues of religion are secondary during any electioneering process and we expect such mentality here, it stressed “God created all human beings equal in the world to coexist and live together as His children .