Former Abia State governor and Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, has described the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu, as an asset Nigeria needs at the moment.
He also described him as a man who has the capacity and competence to pilot the affairs of Nigeria, leveraging on the already established progressive platform by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Senator Kalu, who spoke at an interactive session with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Abuja, on Wednesday, appealed to CAN leaders to disregard the effort of some people to incite Nigerians against religious issues in order to score a cheap political points.
He described Tinubu as a man of character and integrity that should be trusted by Nigerians to rescue the country from myriad of challenges working against its socio-economic growth and development.
He also disabused the minds of some people expressing fears that Tinubu might work together with his running mate, Kashim Shettima, to Islamise Nigeria.
“This fear and anxiety is irrelevant. How can Tinubu Islamise Nigeria when he could not Islamise his wife and other family members? We are committed Christians. We should disregard that concerns and focus on things that would change the fortune of Nigeria.
“All these things people are saying about same-faith ticket in the forthcoming elections is just politics and interest. We would continue to drum support for our candidate because we strongly believe in him. We are committed Christians and can neither mislead members of our faith nor other Nigerians. Please let us stop this politics of hatred, religious and other divisive actions. Believe us, Nigeria needs Tinubu at this time.”
In his remarks, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, said same-faith never determine the development of a state or community, making reference to England that has a Hindu as prime minister and a Muslim as Mayor of London, despite being a strong Christian nation.
He said: “Lately, a lot of things are being churned out in the social media. As Christians, we often make reference to a Bible verse that states, “who is he that speaketh when the Lord has not Spoken?” Unfortunately, people speak now ahead of God. So, we have to leave the things we do not understand to God and ask for his understanding and guidance.
“I will continue to say this, in some states, we have Christians as governor and deputy, we also have Muslims as governor and deputy in some other states. But very important is the fact that same-faith, either Christian-Christian or Muslim-Muslim, has never determine the development of any state in Nigeria.
“Many times I wish my tenure in office be terminated abruptly, because when you really serve God by serving the people, you find out that when you get criticisms and bashes, you ask yourself, does it worth it?. My state, Ebonyi, has grown and developed greatly under a Muslim President, Muhammadu Buhari, more than it has ever grew under a Christian president.
“It is God that determines the fate of men, and does what he wants at any time without permission from human. We believe in our presidential candidate, Tinubu. We came from the same constituency, business constituency. And Christian brothers would attest to what God has done in Ebonyi State over this period. I have enjoyed tremendous favour and support under President Buhari.”
He insisted that APC presidential candidate, Tinubu, has the capacity to continue the good works of the president, being a business man.