Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has suggested that the issue of a possible Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2027 should be approached with caution in the interest of national unity and inclusiveness.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Sunday, Dogara stressed the need for balance in governance, saying Nigeria must be run in a way that accommodates people of different religious backgrounds.
Dogara stated that if Nigerians are discussing rotational presidency, there should also be room to discuss religious balance, describing it as a matter of justice.
He said decisions on party tickets should be guided by fairness, adding that leaders must act according to what is right.
The former Speaker acknowledged that conversations on the 2027 presidential ticket are already ongoing, noting that sitting presidents usually secure their party’s nomination.
He said the final decision rests with the President, but expressed confidence that he would listen to public opinion if there is strong demand for balance.
Dogara said: “Reading down it should be because it is the right thing to be done. We’re talking about running an inclusive government. We’re trying talking about bringing everybody in this country together so they will be able to build a nation that works for all of us. So if that is the case, if we are having a discussion about rotational presidency, there is no nothing stopping us from having that discussion as well.
“Because you see, the truth is that when you are talking, you are not talking about just northern Christians, you are talking about the Christian faith as a whole.
“So if you have a Muslim, whether he comes from the north or from the South. Let it be that he’s representing the Muslim community. And if you have a Christian wherever he comes from, he covers for the Christian faith. So that gives you the religious balance that we’re talking about.
“But honestly, if we’re going to do anything along those lines, it shouldn’t be that we are scared, but because, as men of it, we believe that God requires of us to do justice, and justice demands that we should balance things. I think that should be our concern.
“I’m aware that discussion is taking place now. So at the end of the day, whatever the president decides, ultimately, no presidential candidate who is serving president has ever lost primaries. So we assume that the President definitely will get the ticket of the party. Ultimately whatever decisions that he takes, I believe that it is up to him, but if we have overwhelming majority of our people making a case that these things should be balanced, as a democrat, I sincerely believe that he will listen to it, and particularly for us northerners like me and you, I’ve always insisted that anybody who divides the north along religious lines has actually conquered the North.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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