By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)

The All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Niger state, Hon. Umar Mohammad Bago, has said that the choice of Moslem as his running mate shouldn’t be an issue, but that people should be rest assured that if he emerges Governor next year, the living conditions of Nigerlites will improve.

Bago, the incumbent House of Representatives candidate representing Chanchaga Federal Constituency has been inundated with criticisms for choosing a Moslem in the person of the former chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Garba Mohammed, as his running mate.

While the choice of Garba is viewed as an affront against Christians and a disrespect for the heterogeneity of Niger state and the need for at the least the two major religions recognised in Nigeria to be carried along, Bago is assuring Christians that he will govern Nigerlites without bias to any particular religion.

In an interview shortly after addressing thousands of Christian faithful who converged at the Idris Legbo Kutigi international conference centre, Minna for the 2022 all-night Christian musical concert/carnival tagged, ‘Shout 4’, Bago assured that he will not allow his religious belief overshadow his sense of judgment based on equity and fairness to all.

Bago who said he is a product of a missionary school growing up in Jos, Plateau state, said he has, over the years, established relationships with Christians from the diverse ethnic and regional backgrounds and now better informed on where and when to draw the lines between religion and leadership for the people of the state.

Quoting from the Bible and also raised Christian choruses to the admiration of thousands of youths from within and outside the country present for the soul-lifting faith based musical concert, Bago said only lazy people use religion to cover their leadership weaknesses.

Bago said he got to know about the ‘Shouts’ targeted at bringing the youths closer to God from a friend and decided to be part of the soul-lifting concert. He assured Christians not to entertain fears about the Moslem-Moslem ticket, but to consider his administrative policies and programmes that would benefit the women and the youths, especially.

“I am happy to be part of this year’s Shout. I want to assure my Christian brothers and sisters that they need not fear. As a product of missionary school, I know where and when to draw the line in order to ensure equity and fairness to all religions”.

Bago told the crowd within and outside the hall (overflow) filled to capacity, that “My faith and your faith doesn’t really change anything. Niger state can be greater if you vote for me. Our mandate is how to make the living conditions of our citizens better than how we met it.

“Only lazy people thread on religious issues. We are unifiers. We need to change the narratives, and that’s why we are here. You know my background. I told you that I went to a missionary school. My faith, your faith doesn’t change anything, what matters in other developed economy is how we manage our economy for the better.

“I am a Moslem, and for me to be me here, is to show the existing religious harmony. Electricity doesn’t have a religion. Hospitals don’t have a religion. The markets don’t have a religion. Good pipe borne water doesn’t have a religion. The currency, the markets, schools, good road networks don’t need a religion. So why should we be hammering on religion to cause disaffection amongst ourselves”.

Also speaking, Senior Pastor, House on the Rock Church, Minna, PeteRock Sadiq, said the annual programme targeted at the youths is aimed at drawing them closer to God and away from societal ills, using faith-based music and renditions as a tool.

NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondent reports that amongst the dignitaries present at the event includes; the governorship candidates of Labour Party, Mr. Joshua Bawa; the PDP deputy Governorship candidate, Mr. Samuel Gomna and the former Deputy Governor, Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu.

Others are; former Niger state CAN chairman, Rev. Matthias Echioda, the NNPP governorship candidate and the party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, former and serving Commissioners. NNL.