2023: Why CAN Wants A Christian VP Candidate – Islamic Group, MURIC Reveals
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has alleged that the reason behind the agitation for a Christian Vice Presidential candidate by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), is to milk the candidate if his party emerge winner come 2023.
MURIC’s allegation is coming on the heels of controversies trailing the Muslim-Muslim ticket which the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to fly ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Recall that the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had declared ex Borno state governor and the current senator representing Borno central, Senator Kashim Shettima as his preferred running mate.
Tinubu’s choice of VP did not augur well with most Nigerians including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
CAN President, Samson Olasupo Adeniyi Ayokunle through his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, had said that the situation in the country now is not suitable for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Reacting in a stament signed by the director, MURIC Prof. Ishaq Akintola on Tuesday, the group said;
“Tinubu is under CAN’s hammer for picking a Muslim, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his vice-presidential candidate and Rev. John Hayab of Kaduna State chapter of the organization is the axe man for CAN.”
“CAN is simply hungry for power. We know CAN. The group has been canvassing for a Christian running mate not for the benefit of Nigerians but for parochial ends.
“The idea is to milk the Christian vice presidential candidate if his party wins in the end by claiming that the Christian umbrella body fought for him. It is for political influence, for contracts and for power. We advise CAN to form its own political party.
“It is not written in the constitution that a candidate must not pick a running mate from his own religious group.
“Nigerians should not allow themselves to be deceived by CAN’s spiritual banditry. We warn CAN to leave Tinubu alone.”
