Dare Babalola
Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, has downplayed the religious significance of the All Progressives Congress’ presidential ticket, saying it’s more about regional balance than religious representation.
The ticket features Bola Tinubu, a Yoruba Muslim, and Kashim Shettima, a Kanuri Muslim, as presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively.
In a post on his verified X handle on Wednesday, Ahmad argued that the ticket is a strategic move to bring together different regions, rather than a representation of a particular faith.
He said for the country to grow, people should avoid politics of bitterness, adding that Nigeria deserves better.
He wrote, “I genuinely don’t know where all of this will eventually lead us as a nation. If the rising tensions and the constant reckless narrative are simply because of the combination of the individuals currently occupying the Presidency, then why can’t we just wait and channel our dissatisfaction through the ballot boxes in 2027?
“We all clearly remember the events of the 2023 elections. Neither President Tinubu, his Deputy nor the APC built their campaign around religion. They did not tour mosques preaching religious fear. They did not weaponise faith for political gain.
“I genuinely thought that the Tinubu/Shettima ticket would be seen first and foremost as a Yoruba/Kanuri ticket, two ethnic groups coming together to represent national diversity, as people have been preaching that religion should never come before tribe. But now, because that narrative doesn’t fit the current agenda, suddenly everything is reduced to Muslim/Muslim, as their ethnic identities no longer matter.
“If we genuinely care about this country, our politics must be guided by truth, not reckless narratives crafted to inflame sentiment. Nigeria deserves better.”
