A group under the aegis of Northern Christian Youth Initiative has vehemently condemned the activities of some politicians using religion to campaign for 2023 elections under any guise.

The group condemned the campaign championed by former speaker of the House of Representative Yakubu Dogara and the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal, in the wake of the same faith ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Convener of the group, Mike Msuaan, said “As a matter of fact, Babachir Lawal authored very damaging write ups against the Vice president of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo; himself a Christian and a presidential aspirant in the APC primary that produced Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Babachir Lawal, demeaned his fellow Christian, in support of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is a Muslim. Hon. Dogara was also a known supporter of Tinubu,” the group said.

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“We expect the duo who had become accidental defenders of the Christian faith to have stood for either, Prof Osibanjo or Hon. Rotimi Ameachi who were also top presidential contenders during the party primary. The group cautioned the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and Christians generally to be wary of the sudden defence and interest of politicians like Hon. Dogara and Babachir Lawal seem to have for the defence of Christianity when in reality they supported a Muslim candidate to emerge as the presidential candidate of the APC. This is the time to look for leaders who have the competence to tackle problems and unite the country.

“A school of thought has it that both Dogara and Babachir nursed intentions of becoming vice presidential candidates to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and worked for his emergence. Their inability to secure such endorsement is touted as the singular selfish reason they have become very bitter and are moving round sowing seeds of division. The resort to divisive machinations in the manner Hon. Dogara and Babachir have resorted to, after losing out in the consideration for vice presidency, the unbecoming of statesmen who have risen to such exalted positions of leadership in the country they intend to destroy now is condemnable.

“Hon. Dogara had won elections in a nearly Muslim dominated constituency. The electorates did not vote for him on the basis of his religious inclination, or consideration, neither where they voting him to represent any religious group at the National Assembly. The build up to the 2023 general and the contending interests will no doubt generate tension in the country on its own. Leaders like the former Speaker of the House of Representative and the SGF who should champion the vanguard for peaceful, free and credible elections must not embark on voyages to heat up the polity in the name of settling political goals.”