Presidency 2023: Keyamo sustains image laundry battle for Tinubu, APC Mulsim-Muslim ticket

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo SAN, has become the busiest member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the defence and image laundry of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, including the Muslim-Muslim ticket with former Governor Kassim Shettima of Borno State.  The Labour and Employment minister has been so loud in the debate for balance of religious interests in the governance structure of the country, working assiduously to defend and justify the deliberate exclusion of the Christian faith, or exclusive domination of the Muslim in the governance of the country on the APC platform.

Keyamo dismissing the debate for equity and justice in the composition of structure of government and the argument to balance the Muslim Christian representation in the Nigerian presidency, enjoined Nigerians ‘not to allow anyone, be him pastor or Imam, deceive them’ in deciding who to vote in the 2023 presidential election.  he argued that rather than debating on religious biases, emphasis should be on achievements, essentially, as it relates to the APC presidential candidate, Tinubu.

Keyamo in a series of tweets, had highlighted: “A famous quote: ‘Are you Hindu, Muslim or Christian?’ And a young girl replied, ‘I am hungry!’”

He declared: “As the elites selfishly try to smuggle religion into politics, ordinary citizens just need good governance.

“We must steer the country towards the part of making HUMANITY our religion!

“No one should deceive us, as ordinary Nigerians, be it a pastor or Imam, to vote or not to vote for anyone based on the religious colouration of the ticket.

“Let the debate begin as to the PERFORMANCE of @officialABAT as Gov. of Lagos State and not the issue of same faith ticket.”

There has been disquiet in the polity, including the ruling APC, since Tinubu announced former Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State as his running mate for the 2023 general elections. The decision was heralded by similar debate on Muslim-Muslim ticket and associated threat against Muslim-Christian joint presidential ticket in the APC. Tinubu succumbed to the threat and subscribed to the Muslim-Muslim ticket that has remained controversial. The debate continues.