Avoid MKO Abiola’s Pitfalls – CAN Cautions Tinubu, APC

• Says Muslim-Muslim ticket road to religious disharmony

BY EDMOND ODOK – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the All Progressives Congress and its presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to tow the path of caution and avoid repeating the mistakes made by late Chief M.K.O Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 1993 presidential elections

According to the apex Christian body in Nigeria, Abiola’s political misadventure and mistakes did have spiritual undertones that cannot be disconnected from the singular decision to adopt the Muslim-Muslim ticket for the annulled polls

A statement by the Vice-Chairman, North-East Zonal Chapter of CAN, Rev (Dr) Innocent Rubiruka Solomon, said despite being a successful grassroots politician and winning the 1993 presidential election adjudged to be the most credible in Nigeria’s history, Abiola fell to the lure of a ticket that though appealed to many Nigerians failed the test of being sensitive to the religious harmony in the Country

Rev Solomon said one of Abiola’s greatest mistakes and misfortunes while alive and actively pursuing his presidential ambition flying the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the botched election, adding; “Have we asked why the election adjudged to be the most credible in the democratic history of Nigeria and yet its government was not to be?

“Have we ever cared to know the mystery behind the annulment? Could it just be that the former Military leader, General Ibrahim Babangida, just by himself decided to do the impossible? Was it not something beyond his control, a mystery no mortal could explain?

“Nigeria as a result of that annulment passed through one of its most critical and difficult periods in history which eventually led to the death of one of Nigeria’s illustrious leaders, a remarkable personality who died in custody in an attempt to recover the mandate.”

Pointedly warning the ruling APC and its candidate for the 2023 election, Bola Tinubu to exercise restraint, the statement further said; “Our political leaders must learn from our mistakes of the past or we will further push the nation away from peace, stability, and progress. God forbid.”

The Christian body, in warning APC against promoting the tentative Muslim-Muslim combination of Tinubu and Ibrahim Masari as the Vice Presidential candidate, said no party can win the presidential poll without the support of Christians in the Northern region.

Additionally, the statement said; “Any party for that matter must avoid the pitfall of setting Nigeria’s religious communities into political blocks that may result in the greatest religious disharmony in the Country. Any such decision is precarious.

“No political party should try it, I passionately appeal. Religion is to guide the people and the nation and not to set the people against each other. Political decisions must be fair and just.”

Demanding inclusiveness of all stakeholders in the country’s governance structures, the CAN statement also said; “Democracy must be all-inclusive. Christians, Muslims, and people of all faiths must be duly recognized and carried along.

“Christian -Christian ticket or Muslim-Muslim ticket is not in the interest of a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.”