CAN Presents Charter Of Demands Before Tinubu • “I’ll Not Run My Administration On Religious Bias” – Asiwaju
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, has told the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria that, if elected president of Nigeria, his administration will not be managed on the basis of religion.
In an interactive meeting with the CAN leadership on Wednesday in Abuja, Tinubu gave them the assurance that, just like when he was governor of Lagos, his administration will not discriminate against anyone based on tribe, religion, or gender.
He was accompanied to the session by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Presidential Running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Governors Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Deputy Senate Leader Senator Boroffice Ajayi, Senate Chief Whip Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Minister of Special Duties, Senator George Akume and many others.
The APC presidential candidate was given a charter of demands and issues by the CAN leadership, led by incoming president Daniel Ukoh.
They demanded a variety of things, such as state police or a decentralized policing system, the devolution of power to states, equal rights for all religions and their adherents, the right of all ethnic groups to self-determination, the right of resource communities to control their natural resources, an end to open grazing, and a fair electoral system that ensures that everyone has the opportunity to vote and be elected.
Tinubu said, “My belief in the need for secular government and faith-based organizations to work in unison is not something adopted recently to benefit my campaign.
“As Governor of Lagos, I partnered with the Christian to improve lives and foster education. For instance, I returned mission schools to their owners, most of who are Christians.
“I instituted yearly Christian Denomination Service at the Governor’s residence as we approached the new year. This tradition continues in Lagos.
“More importantly, we fostered an atmosphere of religious tolerance and inter-faith collaboration. My cabinet was diverse and talented.
“In the exercise of government, I did not give a thought to whether a team member was Christian or Muslim, Yoruba, Igbo or Arewa.
“I have never lent myself to baseless prejudice and discrimination. To do so would be a recipe for failure in the governance of a diverse society and I am not a man that is familiar with failing.
“I never chased people out of Lagos nor made them feel unwanted. Under my administration Lagos welcomed all comers and continues to do so today.
“After me, Lagos has had one Muslim and two Christian governors. I may not be perfect. What human being is? But I am not a petty man secretly wedded to secret biases and prejudices.
Regarding his controversial selection of Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate, Tinubu reassured the Christian organization that he made the best decision he could without considering religious considerations.
“I did not choose Senator Shettima so that we could form a same faith ticket. The ticket was constructed as a same progressive and people- based ideology ticket.
“I offer a confession. I selected Senator Shettima thinking more about who would best help me govern. Picking a Christian running mate would have been politically easier. But the easy way is rarely the right one. The selection of a running mate is at once a very momentous yet very intimate decision.
“Every time I thought about it, and I did think a lot; I came to the same conclusion: Kashim Shettima
— His faith was immaterial.
— He is a brilliant man with superior intellectual capacity. He is studious and detailed oriented. Enjoying excellent organization skills, Shettima fully understands the vital difference between governance and politics.
