Analysts have expressed doubts that Governor Samuel Lalong of Plateau State will be able to market the muslim-muslim ticket of presidential flag bearers of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, which they consider a bad product.
Hon. Charles Anike, president of Eastern Union (EU), noted that the ticket had generated needless controversies across the country, with the Christians in the North giving it undeserved attention.
Anike stressed: “We say needless and undeserved attention because, if someone undermines you or calls you nothing, then wait for the opportunity to prove to him or her that you are someone not to be undermined.
“The protests and complains are absolutely unnecessary, because the Christian North should organise themselves to teach the APC a bitter lesson during the general election.
“For us, we believe that the protests are making the APC feel wanted and very important after their monumental and massive failures in every aspect of governance since it took over power in 2015.”
Anike stressed that by the Muslim/Muslim ticket, the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu, on winning the party’s presidential ticket, allegedly through his financial prowess, “also wants to prove to Nigerians that demon can do what Satan could not attempt.”
He added: “As popular as President Buhari was in the North, he could not even dream of it in 2015.
“So, people are still wondering what gave the APC candidate the confidence to think that with his diminishing popularity, even in the South West, that he can do what Buhari could not.
“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu dares to damn every warning signals and whatever consequences and announced as his running mate Sen. Shettima, whose image is subject to many controversies.
“For us again, it must be an act of God to deliver Nigeria and Nigerians from people devouring leadership of the APC.
“The many protests and nationwide condemnation of the Muslim/Muslim ticket is enough to assure the APC that it has embarked on a suicide mission that must end the so-called party.”
Rev. Dr. Francis Ujunwa Simeon, the International Secretary, Christian Association of Igbo Ministers Worldwide (CAIM), said that Governor Lalong of Plateau State portrays the unfortunate image of a groveling yes man of APC to the detriment of his constituents and religious persuasion.
He noted that the Northern Christians in APC protested vigorously against the Muslim/Muslim ticket and some even dumped the party but Lalong kept mum.
He stressed: “Lalong is a Catholic Papal Knight and the governor of a predominantly Christian State. As a knight, he is expected to defend the Christian faith.
“Both his people and his Church and also the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which is the umbrella association for all Christians, are all vehemently against Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket.”
He added: “He is indirectly confirming the notion that there is no Northern Christian that has competence and electoral value, as APC is insinuating. Hence, the choice of Shettima.”
For Comrade Aluh Moses Odeh, National Leader, All Middle Belt Youth Forum (AMBYF), it would have been better for Lalong not have mentioned that he is a Catholic Knight.
According to him, “His actions fall below standard of what is expected from a Knight. Lalong came from a very densely populated and strong constituencies (Middle Belt and Catholic Church), but lost touch with his constituencies today, as he failed to represent us well, speaking as a Middle Belter and fundamental Catholic.
“This is the governor on the platform of the party in power and chairman of anti-human group called Northern Governors Forum. Plateau State under his watch and the Catholic Church he professes the faith, witnessed the worst hit by terrorists’ attacks that never received any condemnation from him.”
He continued: “What is he going to tell us his constituents as to convincing us to vote his party’s candidate come 2023: is it the desperation to justify the neglect of Christians in their choice of running mate, with their own bishops installed overnight without Churches, where they worship to endorse that insensitivity?
“APC blatantly refused to see beyond her nose and saw him good only to be used as Campaign Director General and not as running mate.
“He cannot deliver his party, as Nigerian electorates with what they are going through, have decided to change the narrative for good and cannot afford to risk another four years of blood bath in the country.
“I am ashamed of Lalong when I read he is a Papal Knight. He should remember the day of his investiture as a Knight on the altar of God.”
Dr. Andrews Okhorebhu, a cleric and public affairs commentator, said: “You know in Nigeria, the bad markets sale most than the good ones. And in Nigeria politics, this is also very obvious.
“For this very reason that we as a people have not been able to put Nigeria politically as a true nationhood with right leadership over the years.
“Critically taking an overview of Nigeria as a sovereign state, you will agree with me that everything seems to be built on falsehood, including the constitutional documents.
“So, the political cabals and elites cash on this very trend to take the undue influence and advantage to float continual same order of things against the citizenry to favours themselves wantonly and corrupt with our large resources available.
“Otherwise, as supposedly, Nigeria is a multi-religion and multi-ethnicity. Muslim/Muslim ticket is already a bad and lost political market product.”
Dr. Rexkennedy Saltlove, a political activist, on his own, stated: “Presently he (Lalong) is having issues by flaunting the name of the Pope in his maiden response as campaign head.
“This attack from within has already cast doubt over his credibility for whatever role or goal that appointment was supposed to achieve.
“His campaign head position to the Christian community worsened when the Bishop Matthew Kukah recently said, ‘Muslim/Muslim Ticket is reprehensible’
“The voice of the Bishop carries more weight than that of a Knight. And a Bishop of international repute for that matter.”
