Politics
Group warns on likely security threat Muslim/Muslim ticket will engender
By Janet Samuel
A group, Nigeria Democracy Defence Watch has warned on the danger of presenting a Muslim/Muslim ticket by the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the 2023 presidential election, warning that such development will not only be a threat to national stability but could also retard peace and security in Nigeria.
In a 7 page letter written to President Muhammadu Buhari, the civic group said the Muslim/Muslim ticket if the ruling party goes ahead with the agenda will only portray Nigeria as an Islamic and a sectarian nation which will be ultimately resisted by the nation’s millions of practicing Christians, moderate and progressive Muslims and civic groups, ethno-cultural associations and enlightened members of the International community.
Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Adamu and Otunba Adeniji Niyi Adegoke who are the National Coordinator and National Secretary respectively of Nigeria Democracy Defence Watch had issued the letter to the President titled ‘APC’s Muslim/Muslim Ticket in Nigeria’s 2023 Elections: A Threat to National Stability, Regional Peace and Security’.
They said it is worried more particularly, the international dimension it is taking with a recent letter by 5 United States senators to the US Senate where they are calling for readmission of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to the worsening sectarian violence in the country.
The US Senators had observed that ‘horrific acts of deadly violence have been committed against Nigerian
Christians in recent weeks, including the massacre of churchgoers on Pentecost Sunday and the stoning of a Christian college student to death.
“Sadly, such violence has become all too familiar for Christians in Africa’s most populous country…Religious violence and intolerance directed toward Nigerian Christians has worsened in recent years.
“One report documented more than 4,650 cases of Nigerian Christians who were killed for their faith in 2021.’
Nigeria Democracy Defence Watch is therefore calling on President Buhari to direct the security forces to do the needful by advising Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling party on the possible threats this action could pose to security in the country.
“It is pertinent to note the serious implications of the above with regards to security. This is especially when one rightly imagines that Christians will feel threatened with a Muslim/Muslim ticket, and may resort to pulpit preachings and mobilization of opinions across the Christendom.
“Civil society organizations and students would likely protest this destructive introduction into our polity in various manners which may constitute security concerns. However, it should be noted that the “original sin” is the adoption of a Muslim/Muslim ticket by the ruling APC, and not the reactions and responses that may follow it.”
The group which had the letter to the President copied to all head of democratic and security institutions in Nigeria as well as other international concerns also warned on the danger such political arrangement could cause on the continental security.
“The West African sub – regional, and indeed, African regional peace and security are basically predicated on the presumption of Nigeria’s political stability, or at least, the absence of any conflict that can overwhelm the Nigerian State.
This is because there is nothing in the African Peace and Security Architecture that is designed to contain a conflict in Africa’s largest population of over 200 million people in a country that shares very porous borders with three sub – regions – West, Central and North Africa.
“In the first place, its humanitarian consequences are frightening to imagine – in the event of a civil war or armed conflict in Nigeria, there will be a complete sub – regional melt down in 72 hours, if just 5 percent of the Nigerian population crosses the borders.
“Its economic repercussions will be a total calamity across the entire sub regions of West and Central Africa. The security implication of weapons proliferation and explosion of the two deadly terrorist organizations currently based in Nigeria, into the rest of the entire continent of Africa, can only be better be imagined.
“We therefore implore you to use your good offices to weigh in on Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu to thread with caution and refrain from his unyielding desire to foist on the nation a Muslim-Muslim ticket which if it succeeds will make the above tragic and destructive humanitarian quagmire a distinct possibility.”
***Party Receives Boost From Aggrieved Aspirants from APC and PDP
The Chairman of Labour Party (LP) Governorship Primaries in Ondo State, Mr Olusola Ayodele has declared the resolve of Party to take back Ondo State in the forthcoming coming Governorship elections of the state billed for November 2024 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC)
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, quoted Olusola Ayodele to have made the declaration when he Addressed the Southwest Leadership of the Party on Friday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Ayodele who conducted the Ondo State Governorship Primaries of the LP in Akure a fortnight earlier stated that all preparations by the Leadership of the party to win the Ondo Governorship elections have been concluded with the formation of a proposed Southwest Task Force on the Ondo Governorship elections .
According to him, the Task Force being put together comprises key leaders of the party in the Southwest, who have been charged to mobilise a high-powered National Campaign Team of the Party for the Governorship elections to reenact the LP – Mimiko victory and 8 years good governance of Ondo State
He said, “To lead the Ondo National campaign committee is Mr Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party and Mr Alex Oti, Governor of Abia State. They are to be supported by all LP Senators, Reps Members, State Lawmakers and other key leaders of the Party in the country with formidable solidarity from key members of the Obidient Movement in diaspora.”
While clarifying the rumour about the possibility of the party conducting a substitution primaries for the Governorship candidacy of the party, Ayodele said “this would only happen, if the current governorship candidate of the party decides to withdraw from the race during the substitution window created by INEC and if the National Working Committee, NWC of the Party also finds governorship aspirants who have the required competence and capacity as possible replacement to fly the governorship ticket of a mega party like the Labour Party, especially, a party which has ruled Ondo State for 8 years before”
Ayodele said although some aggrieved frontline governorship aspirants, especially from the APC and PDP are already discussing the possibility of crossing to Labour Party with the Committee, it is only the National Working Committee of the Party that can sanction such discussion before the close of the substitution window of INEC. He however applauded the youths, students and the masses of the people in Ondo State for remaining steadfast with the Party.
Apparently worried about the state of the nation and the increasing uncertainty in the living conditions of the poor and underprivileged, the 2023 Presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi has consulted some top opposition leaders to chart a way out.
Among those Obi consulted with were Former Vice President, and PDP Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, the Former Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki and the Former Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido.
A statement Spokesperson Dr Yunusa Tanko indicated that his visit to the leaders is in continuation of his determination to live up to his expressed commitment to the peace and progress of the nation. “His abiding devotion has always been for the emergence of a Nigeria that works for all its peoples where the people are quickly pulled out of poverty.
“At the center of discussion during each of these visits was the state of the nation and how to reduce the suffering of all Nigerians irrespective of class and location.”
The statement explained that the desperate condition of the downtrodden in in the country was particularly highlighted.
“Of particular interest and emphasis in these discussions was the worrisome situation in the Northern parts of the country”
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The National Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party, Dan Nwanyanwu, has insisted only fresh election can reinstate the 27 lawmakers from Rivers State who who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him by voluntarily switching political allegiances, the lawmakers have effectively relinquished their previous seats, with no avenue for reinstatement.
Despite directives to INEC to refrain from taking action, Nwanyanwu argued that delaying elections merely prolongs the inevitable outcome.
According to
In an interview with Arise TV, he remarked, ”I agree with Wike that nobody will remove the 27 lawmakers but they have removed themselves.
They have on their own volition decided to leave the state assembly. And I want to say without mincing words that nothing will bring back the 27 lawmakers to their seats unless another election is conducted and they emerge victorious in the election.
As of today, any lover of democracy and laws would know that the constitution has written it clearly that if on your own, you decided to join another political party, there is no provision that you want to come back.
I’m aware that there are plethora of cases and INEC has been told not to do anything. But you see, they are just postponing the day of the election.
These lawmakers are no longer recognized members of the state assembly. I’m a lawyer and most lawyers are unanimous on this matter. When a law is clear and unambiguous, you don’t need to give it any strange interpretation.
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