NACOMYO Slams CAN over threat on Muslim/Muslim Ticket

By Bukola Hameed

The National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations, NACOMYO has flayed the recent threat of violence by the unofficial opposition pressure group, the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) and its affiliates over the likely choice of a Muslim running mate for the standard flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2023 Presidential election.

In a statement in Abuja signed by its National Secretary General, Mas’ud Akintola, NACOMYO described the action of CAN as not only myopic but unnecessary, preposterous, and smacks of hypocrisy as well as evil intent.

The Council frowned at the dangerous religious politics being played by CAN noting that this will endanger peaceful co-existence in a multi religious society like Nigeria.

“If they are interested in politics, the leadership of the apex Christian body should abandon their cassocks and float a political party.

Electoral victories in democracies are determined by the majority of voters not by barefaced partisanship and bigotry.

The position of CAN shows it doesn’t mean well for the country because at a time when Nigeria should be looking at putting our best foot forward, CAN in it’s usual retrogressive posturing is promoting primordial sentiments”.

NACOMYO noted that there are so many States in Nigeria that Muslims have neither tasted the position of Governors nor Deputy Governorship seats, still the Islamic body has never threaten any form of violence and wondered why CAN which should be an advocate of good governance has now become a pressure force.

“In the 11 states of the South South and South East including Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo.and Rivers as well as Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo as well as Benue, Plateau, Ondo and Taraba, Muslims have not been elected as either Governors or Deputy Governors since 1999, Muslims have not threatened violence.

Whereas, in Kaduna where Christians are in the clear minority, they were elected Deputy Governors and Governors respectively”.

The Council also recalled a period in Osun State with majority of Muslim population when there was Christian/ Christian government and the Muslim community did not bring the state down.

“CAN lost its voice when the PDP floated a Christian -Christian ticket in Oyinlola/Obada (2003-2010). CAN was silent when Nyesom Wike declared Rivers a ‘Christian state.

Now, they just woke from their slumber because the APC may choose a running mate from the Muslim majority northern Nigeria. Perhaps the current crop of leaders in CAN is more interested in Islam and Muslims and promoting religious crises than the christianity which is it’s primary interest”.

NACOMYO urged political parties to put their most competent members for elective positions so as to enhance the development of the country.

“If the choice of the running mate is about competence and electoral value, the party and the candidate should not be dictated to on the issue of running mate by closet partisans masquerading as religious bodies” .

“The body should note that 2023 general elections is for the election of political leaders not clerics, hence compliance to constitutional provisions should be our guide in who becomes what”.