Tinubu’s Running Mate: Group Drums Support For Yakubu Dogara

By Nomsu Baba

…..Says he’s the right Man

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: Following the inability of the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress, APC to submit the authentic name of the running mate to its presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu before the deadline of June 17, given by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, a peace initiative group “Coalition for Peace and Progress” is canvassiing for Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

The group has called on the party to consider the former Speaker, House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, for the office of the running mate of the party’s presidential candidate, describing him, as the best candidate for that position.

Addressing journalists during a press briefing on Saturday at NUJ Kaduna, the National Coordinator Dr. Muhammad Chindo, further said, that due to the diverse nature of the country and need for fairness and sense of belonging, Rt. hon. Dogara is the perfect man that should be picked.

“It is imperative that the future Vice President must be a Christian who could transcend primordial sentiments bordering on religion, and the twin evils of tribalism and sectionalism. Such a person must also be a good Christian who could promote the cause of unity and togetherness among the diverse and heterogeneous citizens of our great country”, he said.

After a thorough, painstaking search, and a furtherance of our avowed commitment and dedication to the noble cause of ensuring a united Nigeria, we of the Coalition for Peace and Progress, have unanimously come to conclusion that the best person most suited to hold the position of the future Vice President under the APC, is none other than Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara,” he added.

Answering questions from journalists on the group’s stand in supporting another candidate other than Dogara, Dr. Chindo said ” We are here to present the qualities of Yakubu Dogara, because we know him best.”

“We are not saying that it must be Dogara, but we are presenting what we know about Dogara; we know him to be the ambassador of peace, to be a kind hearted person, person with a lot of qualities that we feel he should be the right choice for the running mate this time”, he opined.

On his side, a grassroots mobilizer, APC member and member of the group Mal. Haruna Aliyu, maintained that the country is faced with numerous challenges that are not unrelated to religion and ethnicity, as such, for the party to stand a chance of winning the 2023 election, the running mate must come from the Christian population of the north.

“The truth of the matter is that, if APC should fill a Muslim-muslim ticket, it’s at their won risk; as you cannot guarantee winning, because you cannot say the number of Christians in this country is insignificant that you can take such decision without due consultations,” he said.

“We believe that if you want justice, peace, tranquility, fill in Dogara, so that our brothers from the other faith will have a sense of belonging, as we are all Nigerians,” he further added.

Recall that the ruling party APC, had on the 17 of this month summited the name of Mal. Kabiru Masari as Tinubu’s running mate, which with all indications might be substituted before the time frame given by INEC for all parties to make substitutions if they wish to.