APC’s Muslim-Muslim Presidential Ticket: Redirecting Critics- Anthony Ochela

Nowhere has opinion been more divergent about the place of religion in politics or governance than Nigeria.

Long before now, the debate in Nigeria and abroad had bothered on the welfare of the people and the role of government in addressing it.

Strangely, in the midst of this particularly knotty issue is the simple question of religion.

Given that the constitution, from that of the United States to that of Nigeria it inspired, had explicitly stated that religion should not be allowed to interfere with state matters, adherents to the rainbows of religion have continued to dig their feet into the detriments of the welfare of the people they profess to be serving.

There is no ignoring the fact that religion has done more harm than good to society because there are legions of stories told about how simple issues had become complicated when religion gets thrown into the equation.

We may debate it however we want, but between the Israelis and Palestinians, Iran and the United States, to the North and South of Nigeria, religion has become a clog in the wheel of progress.

Any opportunity we get to break grounds to further humanity, as opposed to diminishing it, we ought to seize it with all our brains and brawn.

Herein lies the reason anyone should not dismiss Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s aspirations just as the people, suddenly ‘Obidient’ or not, have the right to project Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar or any other party’s candidate.

One may blindly try, but in vain, to wrap his or her head around why a Nigerian will continue to pursue an aspiration to lead the country because we all wish well for the country and believe we have the torch to lead the way.

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It’s a good thing we have people with ambitions because like Lord Denning said: we should all get involved.

Going to the polls is a simple thing but then we should go with a proper sense of mind that the mistakes of the past should not repeat itself with our prodding.

On election day, drop your religion at home, and if you can, ignore the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Northern Elders Forum, the Arewa Consultative Forum, Afenifere, and even your neighbour to produce results for yourself, your country and generations yet unborn.

This piece has no bearing with Tinubu or Kashim Ibrahim Shettima but is about giving the best man for the job the opportunity to reset onerous issues aright.