Arewa Consultative Forum has said the unity of the country is being threatened by the decision of presidential candidates to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the coming general election.
Newsonline reports that Arewa Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, the youth branch of the Northern socio-political organization stated that thinking such an alliance is threatening the country’s peace and unity.
The National President, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, Yerima Shettima who spoke on the Muslim-Muslim tickets being projected by the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, said the country is in dilemma.
Yerima said while competence should be the hallmark of choosing presidents and vice presidents of a country and not religion and ethnicity, the country should follow the part of unity to ensure inclusiveness in the country.
“On the issue of Muslim-Muslim tickets, I believe in competence, so whichever way it comes. But preferably, under the circumstances we are in now, we will look inward on how to save the country from this present situation.
“The unity of the country is being threatened, and there are a lot of divisions; we need competent people to come to the fore. It’s only when you save the country that you begin to think of what to share.
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“But when the country is already in a dilemma, you don’t think of what to share. For example, if your car develops a problem somewhere around Abuja-Kaduna road, you will not think of waiting for a Muslim or Christian mechanic; you will be looking for an alternative mechanic to solve your problem to avoid kidnappers or armed robbers.
“Under normal circumstances, one would have preferred that in the spirit of equity, peace, and progress of this country, let’s have our Christian brothers on board, but we are in a very abnormal situation at the moment now; for as long as Nigerians would agree, let’s move the country forward now before thinking of what to share, otherwise you will wake up tomorrow, and there will be no Nigeria.”
Newsonline had reported that the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, is contemplating fielding a Northern politician as the vice-presidential candidate to Ahmed Bola Tinubu to capture the Northern vote.
The decision has been condemned by Nigerians as a call to disunite the country.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket was once fielded in the June 12, 1993 election, that MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe, two Muslims as winners.
The election was however annulled by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
