By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The Nigerian Faith-Based Community Organization based in the United States has advised leaders and clerics of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) to do everything to distanced themselves against same faith ticket in the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking from New Jersey on behalf of the Nigerian Faith-Based Community Organization, the President of the NFBCO, Bishop Samuel Ayeni, explained that Nigeria is a country where religious pluralism is practiced and such be strictly observed.
According to him, Nigerians should reject collectively by all religions in the country any individual or group that is unwilling to support religious inclusion in the country.
Bishop Samuel Ayeni, who is also a Christ Apostolic Church pastor said that CAN and PFN have rightly led the line by rejecting the same faith ticket in 2023 and even in future elections in the country.
He said, “Nigerians need to go a step further by ensuring that they go to the polls and stand firm against the same faith ticket. Any same-faith ticket is a vote against fairness, justice, and equity. It should be rejected by all and sundry in the interest of national unity, it will only succeed in further polarizing the already fractured nation along ethnic and religious lines. The adoption of the same religion ticket is a lost opportunity to unite the nation, not a gain in any way.”
He expressed delight that CAN and PFN have played their part by taking a stand against same faith ticket, saying that it is down to the citizens to ensure that equity, fairness, and justice are maintained.
Bishop Ayeni opined that the 2023 election is a battle for the soul and future of Nigeria, stressing that, Nigeria needs a ticket that will unite the country, not divide it.
Bishop Wale Oke, the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Wale Oke explained that PFN is against the same faith ticket, stressing that it stands against the principles of fairness, balance, equity and justice.
He believed that Muslim-Muslim ticket means over 54 per cent of the population would be marginalised and shut out, saying that if the party doesn’t listen to them, then they will meet up at the polls.
According to him, the idea is to mobilise those who don’t have PVCs to register towards delivering block Christian votes against any party that presents the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
