The Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, has charged the All Progressives Congress, APC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other political parties in the country to consider Muslim/Christian presidency against the ongoing clamour by some individuals for Muslim/Muslim ticket.
A statement by the church signed by its president, Rev. (Dr.) Stephen Baba Panya, said for the unity of the country to be preserved, political parties must adhere strictly to the practice of Muslim/Christian ticket.
The statement recalled Nigeria’s leadership since independence, showing the combination of Muslim and Christian as president and vice.
It further restated that the corporate existence of Nigeria is founded on the principles of justice, fairness and equity, saying that section 23 of the 1999 Constitution as amended has identified, among others, religious tolerance and social justice as national values.
The church said: “As we look forward to peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in 2023, let me heartily congratulate all candidates that have emerged across the political parties for the Presidential, Governorship, National and States Assembly elections. We are very much pleased to note that the processes that led to their emergence were largely orderly and peaceful. Of course, this is not to say that there were no issues of concern. We pray and hope for better days ahead for our democracy.
“Given the pluralistic configuration of Nigeria, we have seen deliberate effort since independence to preserve the peace and unity of the country by ensuring that the Presidency is balanced in terms of religion and region. In the first republic, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Muslim/North) was the Prime Minister while Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Christian/South) was the President under the parliamentary system. Under the presidential system, we have had Shehu Shagari (Muslim/North) and Alex Ekwueme (Christian/South); Olusegun Obasanjo (South/Christian) and Atiku Abubakar (North/Muslim); Umaru Musa Yaradua (North/Muslim) and Goodluck Jonathan (South/Christian); Goodluck Jonathan (South/Christian) and Namadi Sambo (North/Muslim); and currently Muhammadu Buhari (Muslim/North and Yemi Osinbajo (Christian/South).
“It is against this backdrop, that we are calling on all the political parties to maintain this balance for the 2023 presidential election, and to caution those who are brazenly advocating a Muslim/Muslim ticket to reconsider their unrealistic stance. Our position on this matter is that we do not, and will not support a Christian/Christian ticket or a Muslim/Muslim ticket as this is capable of plunging the nation into deep and irredeemable crisis.
“It is pertinent to restate unequivocally that the corporate existence of Nigeria is founded on the principles of justice, fairness and equity. Section 23 of the 1999 Constitution as amended has identified, among others, religious tolerance and social justice as our national values which must guide our conduct and relationships. Our national interest is greater than any individual or group interest. We must therefore do away with primordial sentiments that seek to divide and destroy us and embrace the ideals of peace, love, unity and progress. Martin Luther King once said: “We must learn to live together as brothers or we will perish together as fools”. I pray we heed to this timely warning.
“May God choose for us leaders that are righteous, just, humble and capable of serving this nation selflessly.”
The Church had recently condemned the killing of worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, in Ondo State on Sunday.
It described the act as a calculated assault on the peace-loving citizenry of Owo and the entire Christendom in the country.
The Church also called for the overhaul of the security architecture, while putting in place a security system that is “technology-driven, proactive, comprehensive and decisive”.
The Church had also condemned the murder of Miss Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto by a mob, NAN had reported.