APC would have lost 2019 with Muslim-Muslim ticket – Rev Dangiwa

Former president of the youth wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Bitrus Dangiwa, yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) would have lost the 2015 election if the party had presented a Muslim - Muslim ticket.

He said this is because Nigeria is not yet ripe for a one faith ticket that does not take cognisance of the religious sensitivity in the country.

Dangiwa, who spoke with newsmen in Kaduna, said the country was deeply divided along religious line and it would be suicidal for any political party to take that kind of decision and expect to win election.

He spoke against the backdrop of recent comments by APC leader, Bola Tinubu, that Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Nasir el-Rufai, blocked his chances of becoming the running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015,

“We thank the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and others for deciding against Muslim -Muslim ticket Presidency.

“The truth is that the Nigeria of today is not the Nigeria of yesterday where religious differences do not matter,” he said.

The former CBN youth leader said Saraki and others took a patriotic stand that ensured the unity of the country as the population of the Nigerian Christians is not one that can be ignored by any politician.

He explained that the Abiola - Kingibe ticket in 1993 was because Christians supported the disposition of MKO Abiola.

“But today the country is sharply divided along ethnic and religious lines and political decisions must be taken in such a way that every section is carried along.

“If the APC had made that mistake by presenting a Muslim- Muslim ticket, I wonder if the party would have won the presidential election”, he said.

“He called on politicians to take decisions that can promote peace in the country rather than cause division.