According to a Pro-Tinubu Campaign Organisation, The Asiwaju Progressive Movement (TAM), the 2023 election will not be about religion, but competence in leadership.
The spokesperson of the group, Joshua Owoyomi, shared this with the general public in a statement made available to the press on Saturday, November 26th in Ibadan.
Recall reports that the group was reacting to a recent statement credited to Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Also, Lawal had declared that his group tagged: “APC Northern Christians” would not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over Muslim/Muslim ticket.
Owoyomi said that Tinubu was not in the Presidential race as a candidate of any religion, but as a national candidate, who is out for national unity.
“Asiwaju is out to unite a nation, not to divide it along religious lines.”
“Mr. Lawal and his crew had better wake up and smell the coffee; this election is not about religious differences, but national unity,” he said.
Owoyomi said the group was disturbed by the activities of a self-serving group, APC Northern Christian leaders led by Lawal.
He said that Lawal’s position was a sequel to his failure to secure the Vice presidential ticket of the party.
“We understand the disappointment of Lawal after being overlooked for the position of the APC vice-presidential candidate, he is free to be disappointed and lick his wounds.”
“It’s disappointing that someone who had on many occasions spoken of how Muslims helped him positively is now raising religious issues, trying to fan religious intolerance because of politics and election,” Owoyomi said.
The group spokesperson said the coming election was beyond religion, warning politicians like Lawal to bury the idea of de-marketing Tinubu on the grounds of religious sentiment.
“It is unfortunate that Lawal is still in the class of politicians who think they can use religion to manipulate the people.”
“How can he and his likes think they can use religion to de-market Tinubu, a Muslim proudly married to a Christian Pastor and freely practicing her Christianity without intimidation?”
“Lawal and his group are not thoughtful enough to know that it is difficult to use religion to truncate the ambition of a man who as Governor, had many Christians in his inner circle,” he said.
While serving as governor of Lagos State, Owoyomi claimed that Tinubu never used religion as a criterion for selecting who to work with him or not.
He asserted that Tinubu did not constitute an adversary of the Christian community and had instituted a Thanksgiving ceremony to begin each working year while serving as governor of Lagos State.
“Let it be known to Lawal and his crew that the boat has sailed; it is either they find a way to come on board or stay at the shore,” Owoyomi said.
