The Lord Bishop, Diocese of Kubwa (Anglican Communion), Reverend Dr Duke Akamisoko, on Wednesday took a swipe at the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu for picking a Muslim as his running mate.
Bishop Akamisoko categorically said the Muslim-Muslim ticket is totally unacceptable to the Church.
“This is totally unacceptable to us as a Church. It constitutes a gross abuse of our collective sensitivity as a nation.
“Muslim-Muslim ticket at a time like this is a demonstration of insensitivity to the plurality of religion; the polarized nature of Nigeria; the plight of Christians in Nigeria and the feelings of Christians in Northern Nigeria etc,” Akamisoko stated.
Akamisoko opined that Tinubu’s action was a “direct insult on the entire Christendom” stressing that “APC has made a choice; it is left for Christians in Nigeria to also make their choice”.
The Bishop stated this while addressing the press at 2022 pre-Synod held in Kubwa, Abuja.
The Bishop disclosed that the 2nd session of the 5th Synod will hold from July 29 to 31, at St Peter’s Church, Karu Abuja.
Synod, the Bishop said, is a yearly gathering of policymakers of the Diocese, and the highest decision-making body of the Church.
At Synod, policies are made to regulate the affairs of the Diocese, assess and evaluate previous policies to measure the level of compliance or otherwise.
The theme of this year’s Synod, Bishop Akamisoko said, is, “I chose and appointed you to bear fruit that will remain, (John 15:16)”.
Back to the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue, the Bishop submitted that there can never be a rational explanation for such “a selfish, greedy and self -centeredness decision by the APC.
“It is irresponsible of APC to take its political survival over the stability and peace of Nigeria.
“The party ought to have taken a cue from the opposition against his vice presidential ambition and how President Muhammadu Buhari opted for a Christian running mate in 2015 instead of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“A Muslim-Muslim ticket is the greatest insult on the Christian community, especially in the Northern region.
“Is APC saying that there is no Northern Christian who is intelligent enough to be its running mate?
“Is APC saying that there is no Northern Christian who has a political value to deliver victory to it? Definitely, the answer is NO” Bishop Akamisoko declared.
Speaking further on the state of the nation, the Bishop urged government at all levels to be alive to their responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of their citizens.
“Discussions at different fora have shown that the main cause of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other vices in the country is bad leadership.
“It is on this premise we challenge leaders at all tiers of government to provide social amenities which can make life comfortable for Nigerians.
“Such amenities are stable electricity as this will help in the growth and sustenance of the production sector of the country; good roads network — this will no doubt aid the movement of goods from one point to another.
‘If these two areas are improved, it is certain that there will be more sanity in our country” Bishop Akamisoko said.
The religious leader described the protracted ASUU, ASUP and NASU strike as “bad omen” for Nigeria.
He added that the Federal Government should place more premium on the education sector, if indeed the country hopes for a better tomorrow.
Ahead the 2023 general elections, Bishop Akamisoko calles on Nigerians who have attained age of voting to obtain their PVCs and go all out to perform their civic responsibility on the day of election. “Nigerians should know that we can take our destiny in our hands by voting out bad leaders and bringing in visionary leaders that can take Nigeria to its promise land.
Speaking on corruption, the Bishop said the President Muhammadu Buhari led APC government has failed Nigerians again in the fight against corruption. “The spate at which corruption is growing in the country is alarming. “The rate at which public officers are squandering public funds is second to none.
The cleric, therefore appealed to the anti-graft agencies to wake up from slumber, and imbibe high professionalism. (Daily Independent)
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