The controversial Muslim/Muslim ticket for the President and Vice President positions in next years Presidential election by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has sparked off reactions leading to the shunning of the party by Kenneth Okonkwo, a popular Nollywood actor.
The veteran actor who is quite influential announced on his Instagram page the reasons for his dumping the party which includes the choice of a muslim as VP by Tinubu who himself is also a muslim.
Also the refusal by Tinubu to adhere to clamours by other party members for him to rather choose a Christian from the North as VP. The letter on his Instagram page read thus:
“Recall that joined APC because of its Constitutional vow, as true Progressives and Patriots, to eliminate all forms of discrimination and social injustice in Nigeria, thereby building the nation a nation which will guarantee equal opportunity for all and ensure mutual and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
“Those ideals are now alien to the APC, with their unfortunate decision to paint our Muslim brothers in had light, by insinuating that the Muslims in Nigeria will not accept or vote for a Northern Christian as Vice-President to pair with a Southern Muslim.
“If Muslims could vote voluntarily for Southern Christian Presidents, it is then a fallacy to insinuate that they cannot accept a Northern Christian Vice-President. This will permanently destroy the political viability of Northern Christians in Nigeria, if allowed to stand.
“Being the convener of the Campaign for Equity and Justice in Nigeria, and as a former member of APC Presidential Campaign Council, which resisted same religion presidential ticket in the past, I can no longer continue to lend my name to these abnormalities in the interest of our peaceful co-existence, integration and progress of our beloved country.”
The choice of Bola Tinubu has raised concerns from majorly Christians and some Muslim members of the party, as well as the Nigerian public. Although some stakeholders from the North has lauded the choice of Shettima seeing it as a huge advantage for the party to win the Presidential race come 2023.
