Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state has expressed confidence that the combination of Christian-based ticket will one day win the presidency in Nigeria.
According to him, the Nigerian Constitution does not require religious balancing in political appointments and electoral tickets.
Speaking on Tuesday during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sule said provisions of the 1999 Constitution focus instead on federal character, inclusiveness and ethnicity.
Responding to the criticism by Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over issues relating to representation, the Nasarawa governor dismissed the comments as typical of opposition politics.
“I think it is normal for senator Kwankwaso, whom I respect a lot, to say that because he’s opposition. He cannot say anything good. It is expected of him to say that,” Sule said.
The governor said references to the Constitution on inclusiveness are often misunderstood.
According to him, section 14(3) of the constitution provides for inclusiveness and equitable representation across the country, while section 15 addresses ethnicity. He noted that neither section prescribes religious balancing.
“There is no place where it talks about religion. Section 14 didn’t talk about religion. Section 15 did not talk about religion,” Sule said.
He cited the election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, as well as the late MKO Abiola’s presidential bid with Babagana Kingibe as his runningmate in 1993.
“You can see both elections have been clear that the Muslim-Muslim ticket has won. I pray that one day Nigeria will have a Christian-Christian ticket, and it will win,” the governor said.
He, however, said his choice of a Christian deputy governor in Nasarawa was based on competence and not religious considerations.
The governor said Nasarawa state political reality is different from those at the national level.
“It is the aspect of saying that they were coming for the first time Muslim-Muslim ticket. Just like the late Abiola came in on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, you know, in 1992, and that’s why they were calling it,” Sule said.
“And you can see both elections that the Muslim-Muslim ticket has won. I pray that one day Nigeria will have a Christian-Christian ticket, and it will win; that’s what I pray to see.
“I have always had a Christian as a deputy, Emmanuel Akabe. In Nasarawa state, it has always been a Christian. We thought it was important because Emmanuel Akabe is competent and our state is different from Nigeria. You cannot take a particular state
“Take Enugu, for instance they are Christian-Christian. Take Bayelsa; it’s Christian-Christian,” Sule added.