2023: I won’t run my administration on religious bias, Tinubu tells CAN
...says Shettima’s choice as running mate not religious
Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the all Progressives Congress (APC) told the leadership of the Christian association of Nigeria (CAN) that he will not run his administration on the basis of religion if elected in 2023.
Tinubu who met with CAN leadership in abuja on Wednesday at an interactive session assured them that the same way his administration did not discriminate against anyone either based on tribe, religion or gender when he was lagos State Governor, he would not start such in office as President.
He was accompanied to the session by his wife, oluremi Tinubu, running mate, Kashim Shettima, Femi Gbajabimila, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Governors Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), David Umahi (Ebonyi), abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), abdulrahman abdulrasaq (Kwara), Deputy Senate leader, Boroffice ajayi, Senate chief whip, orji Uzorkalu, George akume, the minister of special duties, amongst others.
Tunde Rahman, media aide to Tinubu in a statement said the leadership of CAN under new president Daniel Ukoh presented a charter of demands and issues to the APC presidential candidate.
Rahman said, they demanded among others state police or a decentralized policing system, devolution of power to states, equal rights for all religions and their adherents and right to self-determination by all ethnic groups.
They also requested for right to control natural resources by communities that bear them, no to open grazing, and equitable electoral system that guarantees the right to vote and be voted for by all.
He quoted Tinubu to have said: “My belief in the need for secular government and faith-based organizations to work in unison is not something adopted recently to benefit my campaign.
“as Governor of lagos, I partnered with the Christian to improve lives and foster education. For instance, I returned mission schools to their owners, most of who are Christians.
“I instituted yearly Christian Denomination Service at the Governor’s residence as we approached the new year. This tradition continues in lagos.
“More importantly, we fostered an atmosphere of religious tolerance and interfaith collaboration. My cabinet was diverse and talented.
“In the exercise of government, I did not give a thought to whether a team member was Christian or Muslim, Yoruba, Igbo or arewa.
“I have never lent myself to baseless prejudice and discrimination. To do so would be a recipe for failure in the governance of a diverse society and I am not a man that is familiar with failing.
“I never chased people out of lagos nor made them feel unwanted. Under my administration lagos welcomed all comers and continues to do so today.
“after me, lagos has had one Muslim and two Christian governors. I may not be perfect. What human being is? But I am not a petty man secretly wedded to secret biases and prejudices.
“as such, I see all Nigerians as equals and as brothers and sisters in our national family. This means no one is inherently inferior or superior to anyone else, regardless of faith, place of origin, social status and gender. anyone who does not hold this fair and equitable view, should not run for president in a country such as ours.”
The APC presidential candidate said the Christian body has a great role as the moral compass of the society which he cherishes and will always support.
“You, as an organization and as individual leaders of CAN, are entrusted as the watch person of the welfare of this society from a Christian perspective. Which means functioning in an atmosphere of charity, understanding, patience and wisdom.
“I understand the tremendous importance of your work and have nothing but the deepest respect for your selfless contributions to our national cause,” he added.
on his choice of Shettima as his running mate, which has generated a lot of controversies, Tinubu assured the Christian body that he made the best available choice at his disposal without recourse to religious sentiments.