By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North-Central, in Minna)
As political alignment and re-alignment ahead of the 2023 general elections gathers momentum, a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa has warned that it will no longer be business as usual for politicians who are religious biased against Christians, as the Niger State Christian electorates will not vote for any political party that fielded Moslem-Moslem governorship ticket as candidates.
Speaking from past experiences of what has been happening in Niger state over the years, Vatsa said they (Christians) will support and vote massively for any political platform that recognizes them as equal stakeholders by presenting a Moslem and Christian joint ticket.
The former APC Publicity Secretary in Niger state and Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, in an interview, said Christian community in the state will resist attempts by the ruling party or any other political party in the state to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket for Governor and Deputy Governor in the next election dispensation.
In 2007, Christians in Niger state watched as political parties continue to field Muslim-Muslim joint ticket for both Governor and Deputy Governor. This seeming relegation of Christians to the background, according to Vatsa, must stop as such arrangements would not be acceptable in 2023 from any political party.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the inauguration of the state APC reconciliatory committee which he is also standing as a member, Vatsa said he believed that for equity, justice, fairness and religious harmony reign in Niger state, all political parties in the state should drop the idea of relegating Christians to the background by presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023.
Apart from the late former Governor, Engineer Abdulkhadir Abdullahi Kure who had Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu, a Christian as Deputy, Niger state has been governed by all Moslem-Moslem ticket. This, according to the former APC spokesperson, will no longer be accepted.
“Since 2007, it has been all Muslim ticket for the Governor and Deputy and this must not be allowed to continue in 2023. I don't think this is fair to the Christian community in a state like Niger where the ratio is 50/50. There is no House that you will not find Christians and Muslims living peacefully as brothers and sisters.
“Sharing of political office across the two major religious groups has been lopsided. But of serious concern is the number one and two seats or positions in the state, that is the Governor and the Deputy Governor. It should henceforth be a Muslim-Christian or Christian-Moslem arrangements".
If religious tolerance is practiced at the federal level, Vatsa said, he sees no reasons where Christians with 50-50 ration with Moslems in Niger state should not be accorded their rightful place in power distribution by election and appointive positions as equal stakeholders.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all the registered political parties in Niger state to be conscious of their choice of candidates for the two top seats n the state because the only way they can have the support of Christian community in the state is to ensure that there is equity.
“I will personally lead the campaign against any political party that is coming out with the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023”, Vatsa who is a member of the Niger APC reconciliatory committee told journalists.
One of the things that bring about frictions, acrimony and sharp disagreements in any political platform, according to him, is lack of internal democracy and where injustice, lack of fair play and poor rewarding system reign supreme.
With the growing level of awareness among Nigerian voting population, Jonathan Vatsa said, it is important that political parties should know that their destiny is in their hands. “Nigerians are politically more enlightened now than 10 years back, so no political party can or should take Nigerians for granted anymore”.
He expressed optimism that, “Nigerians will surely make a statement in 2023, so political parties should be guided by equity, justice and fair play in making decisions because Nigerians are likely to go for candidates and not along political party in 2023”.
On the current crisis rocking his party at all levels across the country, Vatsa said though he is sad with the development in the party but that is what is expected of every ruling political party where people are struggling for a place in government.
Jonathan Vatsa however expressed regrets about the situation in the APC, adding that, “Today you see people who did not know how the party was formed, struggled to win election calling the shots and even telling you that you are disturbing them, simply because they found themselves in the corridors of power.
“The sad thing is that people think more of themselves than the APC as the political party that brought them to office or positions they occupy. There is no party supremacy in the country any longer, and that is where the problem started”.
Not giving up on possible better days ahead, Vatsa said, “I hope and pray that this reconciliatory move initiated by the new leadership in the part in Niger state will achieve the expected results for the good of the APC. It is really sad that we have find ourselves in this situation”. NNL.
