IF I WERE ASIWAJU: REFLECTION ON A MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET
IF I WERE ASIWAJU
REFLECTION ON A MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET
It took quite an extensive consultation to arrive at this decision. This is a very big country with great history and you will have to agree with me that the interest of everyone should matter if we are to build a country of our dream.
The concerns over the faith of my running mate are understandable going by the recent history of insecurity in our country and the fear of Islamisation agenda. But one thing we cannot denied is the fact that we’ve been living together as one country with no issue of religion on who grows the onion and tomato we buy to cook our soup or the backyard of who the oil we rely on all these years comes from.
When our youth, particularly the football teams engage in international tournaments over the years, we are always united with no one caring about who is who. Of course, our youths are less concerned about religion their friends belong to. The future belongs to them. We must help them to build it, not scare them from fulfilling their purpose.
This will not be the first time that a major political party will have a Muslim-Muslim ticket and it will not be the last. In fact, in my life time, we should be able to have a Christian -Christian ticket or have joint candidate coming from the same region. It will not happen if we don’t try. We just have to believe.
This future is not far. It will only be nearer if we can win and run a government that will not only meet the yearning of the people, but surpass their expectations.
If the success of any government in Nigeria should be determined by their religion, then we should not be where we are today, because since 1999, we’ve had the two major religions having almost equal share of opportunities. Their performances are there for everyone to judge.
Politics is a game of number. The north has always been a major factor in the emergence of leaders in our history and we cannot overlook that. I don’t need more convincing or persuasion of our Christian families as they know me for who I am. My track record in appointments and human development during public service is there to see. It’s all about merit and competence.
Of course my wife is a Christian, a pastor for that matter, and you know Bible tells us that when two come together, they become one. My people will say ‘Ile lati nko eso rode’. If there is anyone with the track record of accommodation of faith and diversity, I live it every day.
Our Christians have nothing to fear about Muslim-Muslim candidate, but should only be concerned about if the candidate fears God and capable of delivering good governance. The Dubai that people all over the world flock to is not a Christian country. Even, the Holy Book told us that even God allowed his children to be removed from the land he promised them and replaced them with strangers. He allowed the strangers to remain there when they learnt how to fear him. It is the fear of God we should be concerned about.
As I’ve said before, the decision on the choice of my running mate was not only for me to take. My approach to issues will never be that of winner takes all. But in Nigeria of our dream, we must all win.
We should come out of the culture of win-lose or lose-win to that of win-win. We should depart from scarcity mentality and embrace abundance mentality. We have so much resources that we can all win as a people. Nigeria is one of the most blessed countries with gifted people all over the world. When I think about this, I see hope.
