2023: I thank God I am not Tinubu's running mate - Dogara

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 2023 Presidential candidate

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, has said that he is grateful he is not Bola Ahmed Tinubu's running mate in the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.

Dogara made this known in a press briefing in Bauchi while responding to a question posed at him.

The former Speaker was asked why he has refused to support the presidential bid of Bola Tinubu.

Dogara said;

“I guess that’s the only sensible thing to say if you want to deflect attention from the stark reality of prebendal politics that excludes nearly half the country.

“With the benefit of a hindsight, I am more than grateful to God that it didn’t happen and so many friends and well wishers have also said to me they are thanking God daily that I am not on that ticket granted what they now see and know about the candidate.

“Do you think most of the people following Tinubu today are blind? They see the danger but their bellies are open sepulchers so they price the food they anticipate would be on the table above national interest.”

Dogara warned Nigerians to be cautious of those supporting the APC’s Muslim/Muslim ticket.

He said, “The point I am trying to make is that those who promote same faith ticket and same faith voting are not just crazy, they are dangerous. They are as dangerous as those purveyors of hate on the basis of tribe or creed who demonise entire tribes and races.

“The truth is that if good people like you and I do not rise up to stop them, those who are crazy enough to believe they will stop us from building an inclusive society will truly succeed in destroying this nation that we cherish so much.

“So, we have an obligation to rise against those dangerous voices of hate and stereotypes and not just rise against them, but to quieten them so that all of us can collectively make history and build this country.

“This is why I will never support a Christian-Christian ticket or a Muslim-Muslim ticket in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation like Nigeria.”

BS