El-Rufai on Muslim-Muslim ticket: Fixation of Nigerians on religion is pathetic

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, says the “fixation” of Nigerians on the religion of political office holders is “pathetic and sad”.

El-Rufai spoke on Friday in an interview with Channels Television.

With the election of presidential candidates of political parties, there have been concerns about the religion of the candidates and their intended running mates.

Since the two major political parties — All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — have Muslim presidential candidates, many people, including the Christian Association of Nigeria have asked that their running mates should be Christians.

Asked to react to the speculation of a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the APC, the Kaduna governor said the business of governance has nothing to do with religion.

He added that religion will not solve the problems of Nigeria, adding it is the competency of the elected leaders that will solve the problems.

“I don’t look at people from the lens of Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian, some of my closest friends are Christians,” he said.

“It was Pastor Tunde Bakare, a pentecostal pastor, who took me to CPC, not President Muhammadu Buhari. I’m very close to Pastor Bakare. I’m very close to many Christians.

“I don’t think the business of governance has to do with religion. I think we should look for the best person for the job. The person who will get the job done.

“I’m the wrong person to ask that question because in my state I picked a very competent and qualified woman as my running mate in the 2019 elections.

“But just because she happens to be a Muslim, people were calling it Muslim-Muslim ticket and they said we are going to lose. We didn’t. We won overwhelmingly.

“This fixation of Nigerians with religion instead of competence, capacity and capability is quite sad and pathetic and I urge you as the media to take religion out of governance and let’s look for capacity, competence and delivery.

“I don’t think we should be looking at religion. We want to develop this country. When I get into a plane I don’t ask about the religion of the pilot. When I go to the hospital, I don’t ask about the religion of the doctor. I just want to get well and get to my destination even on an aircraft.

“Nigeria is at crossroads. We face very serious dangers in security, economic meltdown, and global issues affecting us. All that people are concerned with as far as who will be president and vice-president, is religion.

“It is not our religion that will solve our problems. It is people who are competent, capable that will address Nigeria’s problems, unite the country and put it on a progressive path.”

MyVILLAGEpeople:
El Rufai is a well known Islamic fanatic and a proud jihadist.

MyVILLAGEpeople:
El Rufai is a well known Islamic fanatic and a proud jihadist.

Samunique:
I now understand that, coming up for the first time in Kaduna with Muslim Muslim ticket was a ploy to test the waters for their agenda for 2023 election.

These are people master planners !

Look at the rate at which the Christians are being massacred under the watchful eye of El Rufai Mr capacity.

Now I strongly believe that there's an Islamic agenda going on in Nigeria !!

VeeVeeMyLuv:


Remember Turkiye! So that it will be impossible to get a job if a person does not bear a Muslim name. This time around if they succeed there will be no Christian in govtment, decision and policy making.

Samunique:
I watched with bemusement while El Rufai was promoting Muslim Muslim ticket tactically on channels tv on the basis of capability rather than religion.

While this may sound intelligently but rather manipulative, considering the nature of the personality that is talking. We all know El Rufai is a serpent!!!

My question is, what has Muslim Muslim ticket achieved so far in Kaduna, security wise, socially, economically etc ?

If El Rufai talks about capability, he should be able to tell us what his Muslim Muslim ticket capability has benefited the Kaduna people so far, most especially security wise, so that we can take him serious .

We are talking about national politics not state, would El Rufai has said same thing, if it's Christian Christian ticket that's being projected?

Would he be talking about capability over religousity ?

Nairalanders over to you !

Lalasticlala mynd44 seun

Samunique:
I watched with bemusement while El Rufai was promoting Muslim Muslim ticket tactically on channels tv on the basis of capability rather than religion.

While this may sound intelligently but rather manipulative, considering the nature of the personality that is talking. We all know El Rufai is a serpent!!!

My question is, what has Muslim Muslim ticket achieved so far in Kaduna, security wise, socially, economically etc ?

If El Rufai talks about capability, he should be able to tell us what his Muslim Muslim ticket capability has benefited the Kaduna people so far, most especially security wise, so that we can take him serious .

We are talking about national politics not state, would El Rufai has said same thing, if it's Christian Christian ticket that's being projected?

Would he be talking about capability over religousity ?

Nairalanders over to you !

Lalasticlala mynd44 seun

joyandfaith:


We shouldn’t even consider tribe. Fashola can be Tinubu running mate. We should forget religion and tribe. Rubbish!!!!!

TheNiceGuy:
Those who are against this will NEVER even vote APC, they're just being manipulative because that ticket will be a catastrophe for their Party

ChoCho54:
My brother, I sense that you are surreptitiously set to collect your pound of flesh from your yoruba christian brothers.
Muric have been urging you on and you have now found a moment to strike.

Have you considered how this could futher divide Nigerians?

Your own is as long as Tinubu is president. But do you at all want Tinubus reign to be peaceful or you prefer his reign to be full of sleepless nights and chaos everywhere?

ChoCho54:
Babachir Lawal and FFK spoke on same issues and they didn't mince words about their positions. This there position is the position of the majority.

If Tinubu allows the evil 12 governors that gave him the flag goad him into a Muslim Muslim ticket, even his yoruba people will reject him.

Well, tinubu will only be president of iragbiji republic.

TheNiceGuy:
Rest my sister, this is Politics and what could guarantee victory is first considered.

You don't have to bring MURIC into this because I'm a Muslim.

If you think a pound of flesh is to be taken, then leave Christians of Yoruba origin out of it, speak for your SE people.

Will you even vote Christian-Christian ticket that has Yoruba as President before?


Don't use reverse psychology on us, only Muslim-Muslim ticket will guarantee victory for APC.
Good morning and happy weekend

TheNiceGuy:
Thank you for your advice. We'll however consider the rule that says "Never take advise from your enemy"

We're Only going to consider what will give APC victory at the polls