Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Former Nigerian President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has advised Nigerian politicians to be religiously sensitive, a necessary ingredient that he said will enhance peace and security of the nation and also encourage confidence and trust in the people at this period in the country.

He also warned politicians and political parties not to toy with the nation at this delicate period.

Obasanjo: warns against religious insensitivity

In a statement issued today, Obasanjo declared that sensitivity is the necessary ingredient that every politician must apply to the nation’s polity.

The statement titled:’Muslim-muslim or Christian-christian ticket not in tune with Nigeria political trend’, Obasanjo said that disregarding fears on this sensitive issue will amount to bad politics.

“Sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace, security and stability at this point in the political discourse and
arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust.

“It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any leader or any political party to be toying with Muslim- muslim or
Christian-Christian ticket at this juncture.

“Nigeria cannot at this stage raise the spectre and fear of Islamization or Christianization. The idea of proselytization in any
form is a grave danger that must not be contemplated by any serious-minded politician at this delicate situation in Nigeria, as
this time is different from any other time.

“Therefore, disregarding the fact that there are fears that need to be allayed at this point will amount not only to insensitivity of the highest order but will also amount to very bad politics indeed,”the statement read.

Obasanjo did not state why he made this statement, but the political mill has been abuzz with speculations that one of the major political parties, the All Progressives Congress may want to raise a Muslim-Muslim ticket to battle President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice-president, Namadi Sambo. Jonathan and Sambo are christian-muslim.

The first time Nigeria broke the rule of religious sensitivity was in 1993, when the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Moshood Abiola, picked a northern muslim, Babagana Kingibe, as his running mate. Both won the election resoundingly, but were never allowed to rule as the military government annulled the election. The annulment however was based on a different reason.

There have been similar criticisms of the speculations that the APC would re-enact the spirit of 1993 in 2014 and have candidates that would not recognise Nigeria’s religious divide, especially at a time that the nation is seriously polarised along religious lines, what with Islamist Boko Haram attacks on Christians and their churches in Northern Nigeria.

Obasanjo’s Full Statement

Muslim-muslim or Christian-christian ticket not intune with Nigeria’s
trend – Obasanjo

Sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace, security and stability at this point in the political discourse and
arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust.

It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any leader or any political party to be toying with Muslim- muslim or
Christian-Christian ticket at this juncture.

Nigeria cannot at this stage raise the spectre and fear of Islamization or Christianization. The idea of proselytization in any
form is a grave danger that must not be contemplated by any serious-minded politician at this delicate situation in Nigeria, as
this time is different from any other time.

Therefore, disregarding the fact that there are fears that need to beallayed at this point will amount not only to insensitivity of the
highest order but will also amount to very bad politics indeed.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
Oct. 28, 2014