Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong says he’s proud to lead he Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket presented by the ruling the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Simon Lalong To Lead APC’s Muslim-Muslim Ticket
The governor, who is the Director-General (DG) of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, spoke on Wednesday while fielding questions from State House reporters after a closed door with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
KanyiDaily recalls that APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu had picked his fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima, a former Borno State Governor, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.
The development elicited outrage from key stakeholders, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and several Christians within the party.
APC bigwigs like Babachir Lawal and Yakubu Dogara have also kicked against the choice while describing it as a slight on northern Christians.
Reacting to the backlash, Lalong said that he remains a staunch Catholic despite his decision to accept to lead the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket campaign.
He said as a born, baptised and confirmed Catholic, who has the highest award from the papacy, Knight of Saint Gregory the Great, the Pope has not told him that it is wrong for him to lead the Muslim-Muslim presidential campaign team.
Lalong said the Pleateau State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) came to the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos, to welcome him after his appointment as the APC presidential campaign DG.
He, therefore, said that he was not sure where those who claimed to be Christians but opposed his appointment as against their faith were coming from.
The governor, who flayed some Christian leaders asking him to reject the appointment because of the condemnations that trailed the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket, said the selection was strictly a party affair and had nothing to do with religion.
Lalong, who said he respects his faith as a Christian, stated that he was elected governor for people of all faiths and non-believers as well.
He added that since politics is about interest, he is a member of the APC and will not engage in anti-party activities.
He also distanced himself from the allegation that he lobbied to become the running mate of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Lalong said that he was at the Presidential Villa to thank the President for approving numerous infrastructural projects and for granting presidential pardon to the former governor of the state, Senator Joshua Dariye as well of a former governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame that were convicted for corruption.
KanyiDaily recalls that former APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole said that some of those kicking against the Muslim-Muslim ticket are people who are standing trial for corruption.
