Kenneth Okonkwo, Nollywood actor, has resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, citing the decision to present a Muslim-Muslim candidate ahead of the 2023 election.
Kenneth Okonkwo, Nollywood actor, has resigned his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, citing the decision to present a Muslim-Muslim candidate ahead of the 2023 election.
Recall that the APC Presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had on Sunday confirmed former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, a fellow Muslim as his running mate.
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Okonkwo in a statement said his decision to quit the ruling party was informed by Tinubu’s insistence on choosing a Muslim running mate despite calls for him to choose a Christian northerner to balance the religious divide.
The statement partly read, “Recall that joined APC because of its Constitutional vow, as true Progressives and Patriots, to eliminate all forms of discrimination and social injustice in Nigeria, thereby building the nation a nation which will guarantee equal opportunity for all and ensure mutual and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
“Those ideals are now alien to the APC, with their unfortunate decision to paint our Muslim brothers in had light, by insinuating that the Muslims in Nigeria will not accept or vote for a Northern Christian as Vice-President to pair with a Southern Muslim.
“If Muslims could vote voluntarily for Southern Christian Presidents, it is then a fallacy to insinuate that they cannot accept a Northern Christian Vice-President. This will permanently destroy the political viability of Northern Christians in Nigeria, if allowed to stand.
“Being the convener of the Campaign for Equity and Justice in Nigeria, and as a former member of APC Presidential Campaign Council, which resisted same religion presidential ticket in the past, I can no longer continue to lend my name to these abnormalities in the interest of our peaceful co-existence, integration and progress of our beloved country.”
Source: Punch