Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Barr Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has declared that the Tinubu:Shettima Muslim – Muslim presidential ticket adopted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 General elections is nothing but ungodly.
The former Speaker also aligned with the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) which rejected the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 presidency.
Yakubu Dogara said that the position of CAN is the position of God as adopting a Muslim-Muslim ticket in a diverse country like Nigeria is a recipe for disunity and disaster.
The former Speaker was speaking on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at the 12th General Assembly and Leadership Transition Ceremony and Symposium on the Role of Christian Women and Youths in Politics, organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) held in Abuja.
According to him, “The position taken by CAN is not only CAN’s position, it is not only the position of notable Christian leaders like Babachir David Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and many others who have spoken againts it, it is also God’s position because we serve the God of justice, our God is righteous, our God is the author of diversity, and He wants as diverse as we are to come together”.
Yakubu Dogara added that, “So, CAN’s position, as much as it is a righteous position, it is the position of all of us who love righteousness, justice, diversity and are working to harness it for the advancement of this country” .
He stressed further that, “Anybody can say anything but in as much as what we are standing on is godly, any other position is ungodly. It is either you are for righteousness, inclusiveness , justice or you are against the unity of this great country.”
The member representing Bogoro /Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State then called on women and youths to emulate the lives of Esther and Deborah in the Holy Bible who stood up for their people in times of national crisis in Israel.
While Quoting from the book of John 3:3, he argued that only those who are born again can enter the kingdom of God and that it is a righteous thing for born again Christians to participate in politics.
He further drew from the parable of talents in the Holy Bible, calling on Christians to utilize their individual talents for the advancement of the kingdom in order to impact on their communities and the societies as everyone will account before the creator on how they used their talents.
He added that to participate in politics does not mean everyone must run for elective offices, as women and youths can organize and mobilize their communities to participate actively in the democratic process such as voter registration.
Yakubu Dogara concluded saying that, “The scripture says we are the salt and light of the world”.
