Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has disagreed with the position of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari on a desirability of a Muslim Muslim Presidential/Vice Presidential ticket in the country.
The former president said there was need for religious consideration in handing out the ticket.
Obasanjo said in a statement in Abeokuta on Sunday that a Muslim-Muslim or Christian – Christian presidential ticket at this time of the nation’s precarious unity was not only absurd but also out of tune with the present day Nigeria.
General Buhari had stated in an interview with TheCable that he saw nothing wrong in a Muslim Muslim presidential ticket as long as it produced a team that would take the country to the promised land.
In the statement, Obasanjo said given the current peculiar situation of the country, it was pertinent that any leader or political party should run away from the idea of Muslim – Muslim or Christian – Christian ticket in the forthcoming presidential election slated for February next year.
Obasanjo said: “sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace, security and stability at this point in the political discourse and arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust.
“It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any leader or any political party to be toying with Muslim- Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket at this juncture.
“Nigeria cannot at this stage raise the spectre and fear of islamization or Christianization. The idea of proselytization in any form is a grave danger that must not be contemplated by any serious-minded politician at this delicate situation in Nigeria, as this time is different from any other time.
“Therefore, disregarding the fact that there are fears that need to be allayed at this point will amount to insensitivity of the highest order”, Obasanjo stated.
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