The Muslim-Muslim Ticket of Tinubu and Shettima
Nigerian
is a nation where politics flows along religious and tribal canals. The sitting
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a Muslim
and picked a Muslim running mate during his election. This is something that is
happening for the first time in the history of the democratic presidency in Nigeria.
The issue has generated tons of conversations in favour of and against. The President,
however, chose his running mate based on his calculation of how to secure
victory.
I
saw a video of an Islamic preacher from Kaduna State talking about why Kaffirs (referring
to Christians) hate Mallam Nasiru El
Rufai. He said that El Rufai is hated by Christians because he refused to take
a Christian running mate and still won the election. The Sheik asked why it is
expected of Kaduna when that doesn’t happen in Plateau State.
Well,
I think he acted in ignorance. There are
three reasons why Muslims are not taken as running mates in Plateau State.
First
reason is the fact that politicians work with numbers that will give them
victory. In Plateau State, there are about forty tribes, but five stand out as
majority. These are Berom, Taroh, Ngas, Mwaghavul, and Gomai. Since, our
politics often follow tribal lines, a gubernatorial candidate would want to
pick from any of these tribes to ensure victory.
Second
reason is the fact that the Muslims consider it distasteful, giving their votes
to a non-Muslim. In the decades since the coming of democracy in Nigeria,
Plateau Muslims prefer bringing out a Muslim candidate and casting the bulk of their
votes to him, despite knowing it wouldn’t be enough to secure victory. So, a gubernatorial
candidate wouldn’t want to pick a Muslim running mate since it doesn’t change
the opinion of his Muslim brothers. He would prefer picking from any of the
five tribes.
The
third reason why chances of a Muslim securing the seat of a running mate in
Plateau State is difficult is the fact that Plateau people believe that, across
this country, a Plateau man has never
been chosen as a running mate (and will never be) in any of the remaining thirty-five states. So,
why should it be different in Plateau State?
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