2023 Presidency: Muslim- Muslim Ticket only option for Tinubu, APC – Orji Kalu
Kenneth Udeh from Abuja
To emerge victorious in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential elections, Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has disclosed that the best option left for the Presidential flag bearer of the All Progressive’s Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu is for the party to field a Muslim- Muslim ticket.
Since the conclusion of the APC’s Presidential primaries there have been debates over who Tinubu and the APC should field as the running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking to Senate Journalists on Wednesday morning, Kalu who represents Abia-North Senatorial District said that Tinubu, a minority Muslim from the south cannot afford to pick a minority Christian from the North as running mate.
In his words; “If I am in Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s situation , judging by the fact that his wife is a senior Pastor a pentecostal Church i’ll go for Muslim-Muslim Ticket. The most important thing is for the party to win.
Making reference to the Christian background of Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the APC flag bearer, Kalu mentioned that Tinubu’s wife being pastor in a pentecostal Church is enough to balance the religious differences in the country.
“We should not have all these unnecessary controversies afterall his Wife being a pastor is enough to balance the situation and they have been living together for over forty years together and I have known them for this long. Her personality makes her like a Deputy President, but that’s my personal opinion.
“This is Orji Kalu’s opinion and you cannot deny my opinion but you can also play Christian Christian ticket depending on the scenario. If we don’t play Muslim-Muslim Ticket we shall be in trouble we may not win the election, the former Governor said.
When asked about the choice of the running mate to the APC candidate Tinubu, Kalu said “It will be very difficult to win the election because the only option for Bola Tinubu as it stands is for him to pick Muslim vice presidential candidate. I know the Catholic Secretariat of the Church that I belong to might condemn my opinion, but what’s wrong with Muslim – Muslim ticket?? Kalu said.
Explaining further Kalu said giving the current situation Fielding both minority Muslim and Christian candidates in the 2023 Presidential elections will be of huge disadvantage to the party.
He said;
“I don’t see anything wrong with Christian- Christian ticket but the condition we have found ourselves is that you can’t field two minorities, Tinubu belongs to the Minority Muslim from the South and if you put field a Christian he’ll also be a Minority Christian from the North so you cannot play two Minorities. It’s difficult but it’s not the position of the party it’s my personal opinion.
“I’ve known Tinubu for a very long time , he’s not biased in religion and tribe , he’s a man that carries everybody along and picks those who can do the work. I know most Christians will be angry with me but picking a Christian or Muslim vice president won’t make him the Best President, what will make him a good President is his conscience.
Asked if Tinubu will be offended the Southerners if he picked a Muslim Vice Presidential candidate Kalu responded ;”are Northerners not Nigerians?
