The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, for attributing the alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria to the Muslim-Muslim ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
Naijaonpoint reports that Lawal, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, alleged that the Muslim-Muslim ticket and the administration’s perceived tilt towards Islamic economic frameworks created conditions that encouraged attacks on Christians in the country.
He said, “The government, by deliberate actions, seems to encourage them. I tell you, I refer to this Muslim-Muslim ticket, that is the fundamental basis for they have justification to continue.
“If the government so decides that we have no regard for Christians in Nigeria, that we can run our government as Muslims, whether they like it or not, they can go to hell.”
However, the APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Ijeoma Arodiogbu, in an interview with Punch, said Lawal’s remark was driven by bitterness over his failed bid to emerge as Tinubu’s running mate in the 2023 election.
Arodiogbu said Lawal’s assertions were motivated by personal frustration over being sidelined by the Tinubu administration.
He said, “For Babachir Lawal to start blaming the Muslim-Muslim ticket or Tinubu’s choice of vice president for the killings in Nigeria is quite unfortunate. But it is expected of a man of his kind.
“He has developed a mindset of ‘If I can’t get it, let the house scatter.’ It is the same trajectory of a grumbling loser.
“It is all frustration over his failed ambition. Babachir Lawal became disgruntled after Tinubu dropped him. You know he was one of the major supporters when the President emerged as the APC candidate after the primaries.
“But he became disgruntled after his vice presidential ambition didn’t sail through. If you know his history, you will understand that there is no way he wouldn’t be making this comment he is making today. His views are always about himself. Are there killings in Nigeria? Yes. Christians are being killed just like Muslims.”
The APC chieftain noted that while many Christians initially expressed concern over the same-faith ticket, fears of marginalisation or an ‘Islamisation agenda’ had not materialised.
He added, “As a Christian, I would have also preferred a Christian deputising the president. But we have seen that Tinubu is a true democrat, and the fear that Christians expressed about Islamisation did not happen.
“Also, the fear about Christians not being adequately appointed in positions was also unfounded.
“The president is a man whose wife is a pastor of a church despite being a Muslim. That shows his level of reasoning, balancing, and consideration. So Babachir’s presentation is quite unfortunate but expected.”
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