Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the recently announced running mate to Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, has asserted that the 2023 elections are about who is capable, not the other way round maintaining that religion and ethnicity will not play any roles in 2023.
Baba-Ahmed, who was unveiled as Obi’s running mate made this known when he spoke in an interview with BBC Hausa Service which was monitored by Africa Today News, New York on Saturday.
Datti Baba-Ahmed sent serious warnings to Nigerians not to make mistakes again by measuring candidates based on their religion or tribe stressing that the time for such is over.
He said, ‘For more than 60 years, religion and tribalism have eaten deep into Nigerian politics and this is what present administration used to win elections.
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‘After it won, who cried over maladministration most? Who rained curses on the administration? It is people from where the president comes. The region where he (president) comes is the most affected.’
Datti Baba-Ahmed, who is also a former senator, charged Nigerians to elect leaders irrespective of differences.
‘God doesn’t make mistake in making us in different religions, it’s His will to see us that way. We are not contesting for leadership in any religion, we are contesting for presidency, so I see no reason for considering religion.’
On why he agreed to be Obi’s running mate, he said ‘What Nigeria needs for now is to rescue it from total collapse, therefore, Obi gave me convincing reasons after observing his character and capacity to do the job.’
Africa Today News, New York reports that the popularity of Mr. Peter Obi has continued to sour on social media in the few months with many wondering if the support will translate to real votes on election day.