By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu has taken a swipe on those condemning the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for mulling a Muslim-Muslim ticket, describing it has “rubbish”, stating that wife of the party’s presidential flag bearer is a Pastor.
According to the former governor of Abia State, the only option left for the presidential candidate of APC, Bola Tinubu is to pick a fellow Muslim as running mate, insisting that it is the only window of victory APC has.
Speaking with National Assembly correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday, Sen. Kalu who represents Abia North, said if he was in Tinubu’s shoe, he would pick a fellow Muslim as running mate.
“The most important thing is for the party to win. We should stop all these ‘rubbish’ about… whether you put a Christian there, after all if we win, already the wife (Oluremi Tinubu) is a pastor and they have been living for over fifty something years together.
“I’ve known them this far, so what do you want to claim, she is already like a deputy president, if I am to say. I am saying my opinion, I am a Catholic, this is Orji Kalu’s opinion, you cannot deny me my opinion.
“But you can also play Christian-Christian ticket, depending on the scenario because if we don’t play Muslim-Muslim ticket, we are in trouble, it will be most difficult to win the election.
“The only thing left for Ahmed Tinubu today is to play a Muslim-Muslim ticket, I know the church I go to, the Catholic Secretariat might condemn it, but what is wrong with Muslim-Muslim ticket?” he said.
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) had warned political parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, against putting forward a Muslim- Muslim presidential ticket in the upcoming 2023 general elections.
According to CSN, the polarised nature of Nigeria at this point in time no longer permits such a presidency, adding that Nigeria of 30 years ago is not the same as what is obtainable today.
This is coming on the heels that Tinubu will pick a fellow Muslim to be his running mate.
