A renowned christian cleric and social justice peace advocate Reverend Gideon Para-Mallam has stressed that the Muslim-Muslim ticket fielded by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) cannot be justified in Nigeria.
The cleric made this stance while speaking as a guest at the 62nd Interdenominational Independence Service Organized by Chapel of Victory of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi where he opined that the idea of Muslim-Muslim ticket is a contradiction to Nigeria’s unity.
He observed that Nigeria is a multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nation adding that such a reality must be respected in our politics.
“If those who aspire for the highest office in the country can be insensitive to the Nigeria’s contextual reality, then I am afraid when they eventually get power, one is tempted to ask: what will they do?Will they care, will they listen to anybody?
“I do not support a Muslim-Muslim ticket. But let me be clear, I have nothing against Muslims, I have several Muslim friends, some of who are Sheikhs, Imams and Uztazes. I honestly respect my Muslim friends in the spirit of peaceful coexistence and our shared humanity.
“But just as I would say no to a Christian- Christian ticket in today’s Nigeria, I strong also say no to a Muslim-Muslim ticket”. He said.
According to him, the Muslim-Muslim ticket represents a dangerous future and a politics of exclusion in the name of majority saying the matter is a destructive political culture that must neither be promoted nor ignored.
