By Hillary Asemota
The Director General, of National Unity Movement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (NUMBAT), an independent political support group, Mr. Bamidele Faparusi, has called on Nigerians to embrace national unity in diversity, national integration and cohesion despite their differences.
The group, which is working together with other patriotic citizens across religious and ethnic divide to promote national unity in diversity ahead of the 2023 general elections, said it is supporting the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because of his detribalized and religious-tolerant nature.
Reacting to a statement by a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Segun Showunmi, who faulted the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu for picking a Muslim, former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his running mate, the DG urged Nigerians to embrace “national unity and shun ethnic and religious politics.”
According to him: “Placing competence and merit above religious and ethnic consideration in choosing leaders that would steer the affairs of the nation in the right direction is what Nigerians should consider while voting in 2023.”
He also appealed to Nigerians to get their PVCs and vote massively for Tinubu come 2023, saying the APC presidential candidate is the only one among the presidential candidates who has deep understanding of Nigeria, its diversity and challenges and the capacity to fix the country to everyone’s satisfaction.
Faparusi, a former National Assembly member and Commissioner in Ekiti state, described Tinubu as a “detribalized Nigerian, a great patriot, a great bridge builder and unifier, a religious tolerant man, and a believer in one God, one humanity.”
According to him, Tinubu, during his time as the governor of Lagos, he appointed non-Lagos indigenes into his cabinet, a gesture that has proven he is the man Nigerians can trust.
“Even with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, without having any fear of religious domination and suppression, we are conscious of the secularity status of Nigeria, and Tinubu is best positioned to protect our secular state.
“NUMBAT, as an independent political support group, we are working together with other patriotic citizens across religious and ethnic divide, so as to assiduously promote national unity in diversity, national integration and cohesion despite our different religious inclinations, ethnic and political orientations,” said Faparusi.
Tinubu had, on Sunday after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, confirmed Senator Shettima as his running mate, a decision that has continued to elicit reactions from different stakeholders across the country.
Signed: Mr. Joseph Undu, Director, Media and Publicity: NUMBAT.