The Human Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) says that the decision of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim, to nominate a Muslim running mate whose role as Borno State Governor is suspiciously linked to the formation of Boko Haram terrorists, is highly dubious, divisive and deceptive.

“We make bold to repeat that the reason for this unconstitutional nomination is purely a political gimmick to divert the attentions of the collective of Nigerians from the core issue of abysmal failure of governance that has characterised this government in the last 7 years,” HURIWA noted in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emma Onwubiko, on Friday, August 19, 2022.

The statement adds: “Senator Tinubu and Senator Shetima are aware that the positioning of same faith candidacy for the President of Nigeria is unconstitutional but because they lack the political conviction and the moral wherewithal to embark on the Presidential campaign at the back of the monumental failure that their current All Progressives Congress APC-controlled federal government which unleashed on Nigeria, and thereby throwing over 100 hundred million Nigerians into absolute poverty.

“So, they then decided that the only issue that could divert attention of Nigerians from their crushing economic situation is to play the religious card. This is the reason behind this illegality of same faith candidacy by the All Progressives Congress. Nigerians must be told that this is the fundamental reason for these sweeping violations of section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution on the obligatory demand for federal character principles in appointments.

“However, as stated earlier, the goal of APC's same faith presidential candidacy for 2023 poll is to foist confusion on Nigeria and split the country into religious camps since the APC as a party currently in power has failed in all dimensions. The fear of constructive campaigns by APC is the fundamental reason that gave rise to this unnatural choice of Muslim-Muslim ticket and nothing more.

“Tinubu who packaged the intellectually porous Muhammadu Buhari and sold to Nigeria to become the president in 2015, knows that he has no justification for his callous, wicked, and terrible mistake of 2015 and so the only item that could divert attention is for APC to bring up a very cantankerous Muslim-Muslim ticket to drown any possibility of Nigerians demanding accountability and clarity, regarding the blueprints of the same party that deceived Nigerians in 2015, 2019 and due to crass misgovernance has virtually derailed economic growth.

“So, HURIWA is asking Nigerians to demand accountability and transparency from the candidates, play small small on this vexatious issue of same faith candidacy so that Bola Ahmed Tinubu's gambit will be exposed.

“This is the time to ask Senator Bolaji Ahmed Tinubu to tell Nigerians his real identity, his educational credentials and the sources of his incomes and wealth. Nigerians should also ask Senator Shettima about his role in the emergence of Boko Haram terrorists and the allegation that as Governor, he harboured a fugitive terror mastermind who bombed the Catholic Church in Madala near Abuja.”