Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal has accused Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and some Northern Governors of attempting to Islamise Nigeria.
Babachir made the accusation in a lengthy article on Tuesday night while reacting to the decision of the APC Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to pick the former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.
In the article, the former SGF claimed that Ganduje was part of the Northern Governors and Northern Moslem elites who persuaded Tinubu to pick a Muslim as his running mate.
Babachir stated that the APC Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket is just a pointer to the alleged Islamization agenda of the country, adding that Ganduje had already confirmed that Tinubu would settle for the controversial ticket.
The former SGF claimed that Ganduje is in total support of the Muslim-Muslim ticket because he runs a foundation aimed at converting Christians to Muslims.
Lawal warned Tinubu not to allow himself to be converted into an Islamic fanatic religious bigot in his desperation to rule Nigeria, saying that such a step would be disastrous to his presidential ambition.
He, however, advised the former Lagos governor to be prepared for stiff opposition from Nigerians after selecting a Muslim as his running mate.
The statement reads partly: “The northern governors and some northern Moslem elites must have persuaded him that they would never vote for a ticket that has a northern Christian on it. And he has agreed with them. But if he thinks a Moslem-Moslem ticket will win him the northern Muslim votes, he should have a rethink.
“They will massively vote for one of their sons because it is in their nature to do so. Buhari, their first son, will not be on the ballot in 2023. Atiku their second son will be.
“Proof of a possible Islamic agenda was leaked when Governor Ganduje, the ‘Kadmul Islam’, gave advance notice that Tinubu had assured them he would nominate a Moslem as his running mate. For those who might not know, Governor Ganduje has a foundation called “Ganduje Foundation” whose purpose, according to its website is to “provide selfless service to humanity and Islam” but whose primary purpose it appears is the conversion of Christians to Islam.
“So if my very good friend Tinubu, in a desperate bid to become president, allows himself to be made into a religious bigot or even a mujahideen, he is welcome. But, were he to win and become President of Nigeria, it would be as a sectional president, an Islamic president, and he will surely face massive discontent and opposition even before taking off.”
