The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) yesterday said the Senate presidency should go to a Christian from the South.
The group called on all Muslims vying for the post to withdraw.
Its Executive Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola said: “As a major stakeholder in the affairs of Nigeria, we have followed with keen interest the imbroglio which greeted the Muslim-Muslim ticket and how it ended in Nigeria having a Muslim President-Elect and a Muslim Vice President-Elect.
“In view of this outcome and considering the multi-religious character of our dear country, it is our considered opinion that the post of senate president should go to a Southern Christian. Nigeria needs the cooperation of both Muslims and Christians because only such collaboration can engender peace and development.
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“Although we are a Muslim group, we believe very strongly that Muslims should not take all the top posts despite being the undisputed majority group in the country. Muslims must be ready to share power with their Christian compatriots. Politics is a game of give and take and Nigerian Muslims must play it right.
“We must all be ready to demonstrate willingness to work together as a people in spite of our religious differences. After all, there is no Muslim electricity supply, no Christian roads, no Muslim public transport system and no Christian Naira. Our problems are identical and whatever affects our country affects both Muslims and Christians together…
“MURIC therefore calls on all Muslim candidates vying for the position of senate president to withdraw in order to allow Christian candidates from the South to have a free hand in the competition (preferably the South South because the South East has occupied the post on several occasions).
“In addition, MURIC tips any suitable candidate from the North West for the post of deputy senate president in view of the fact that the zone gave the largest number of votes to the party and the candidate that won the election.”