Nigerians have been advised by former presidential advisor Bashir Ahmad to see the Tinubu/Shettima ticket as a symbol of the nation’s diversity, representing the unification of the Kanuri and Yoruba ethnic groups.
In a post on his verified X profile on Wednesday, Ahmad called for Nigerians to reject religious sentiment and stop perceiving the ticket as Muslim.
He went on to say that in order for Nigeria to progress, its citizens need abstain from politics based on animosity.
“To be completely honest, I have no idea where this will lead our nation in the long run. If the current presidential combination is the only reason for the escalating tensions and the persistent negligent narrative, why can’t we wait and use the voting booths in 2027 to voice our disapproval?
“What transpired during the 2023 elections is well remembered by all. President Tinubu, his deputy, and the APC did not use religion as a platform for their campaigns. When they visited mosques, they did not incite religious panic. They didn’t make use of religion as a political weapon.
I genuinely thought that the Tinubu/Shettima ticket would be seen primarily as a Yoruba/Kanuri ticket, two ethnic groups coming together to support national diversity, as many have been arguing that religion should never take precedence over ethnicity. However, everything is abruptly reduced to Muslim/Muslim because that narrative doesn’t align with the current objective, as their ethnic identities are no longer significant.
“If we genuinely care about this country, we need to ground our politics in reality rather than hasty myths meant to arouse feelings. He penned, “Nigeria deserves better.”
