Sir: Former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has bemoaned the division of the country along ethnic and religious lines. In his opinion, we have never had such division since the time of the civil war.
I concur. But it didn’t begin with this election. It actually began with the 2015 election. Former President Goodluck Jonathan who was seeking re-election at that time began the ugly and unfortunate trend of going from one church to another canvassing for votes. Peter Obi, who was the deputy director general of the Goodluck/Sambo re-election campaign team, borrowed a leaf from his former boss, and used the same strategy in 2023.
Many Christians see nothing wrong in using the altar to canvas for votes. They justify it with the claim that the Muslims in Northern Nigeria have been doing the same for many years. First and foremost, the 2022 Electoral Act expressly forbids the use of religious houses as campaign grounds. Secondly, assuming but not conceding that northern Muslims have been doing the same thing, they are not known for preaching incendiary messages against Christian politicians who are contesting in elections.
This election has shown that no single tribe, region or religion can singlehandedly produce Nigeria’s president. You have to build bridges and form alliances across ethnic and religious lines to secure victory at the polls. Nigerians should also know that politicians who resort to the use of tribalism and religion to campaign for office usually have nothing to offer. Those who have the pedigree and antecedents have no qualms with campaigning for office with past achievements.
It must be said that President Muhammadu Buhari didn’t do enough to heal the fault lines that emerged in our nation in 2015. Although he made amends in his second tenure but it was a little too late. First impressions matter a lot and the impression that he was a sectional leader had taken root especially in opposition strongholds.
The president-elect must avoid making the same mistake. He needs to show the nation through his initial appointments into public office that he is a father to all and intends to involve all tribes and religious groups in the administration of the country. He must adhere strictly to the federal character principle as enshrined in the constitution. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should also fix the economy so that there will be jobs for our teeming youths. A hungry man is an angry man. But when the people are well-fed, they most likely wouldn’t be bothered about the religion or tribe of their political leaders.
•Peter Ovie Akus,
New Jersey, USA.