A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir David Lawal, says all that is left for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is to simply change its name because it is actually an Islamic party
Lawal was reacting to a Tuesday night statement by the All Progressives Congress APC wherein its spokesman, Felix Morka, described him as incapable of rational thought.
According to him, all that was now left for the party is a change of name, adding that even this may not take long since it already has the “Kadmul Islam”, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as its National Chairman and a Muslim as National Secretary.
Babachir said the Deputy National Chairman North (who acts in the absence of the Chairman), National Organizing Secretary, National Legal Adviser, and three National Vice Chairmen and more, are Muslims.
The statement which was titled, ‘Political Discourse: The APC reaction and its castigation of my person’, reads; “I woke up this morning to a very pathetic social media trending write-up apparently, a response to my article on the current political discourse by one Felix allegedly of the APC.
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“When we founded APC way back in 2013/2014, we envisaged it would be a national party that would carry along all the different socio-political and religious tendencies of the nation. In those days, we were careful not to side-line any of the religions or tribes of the country in the composition of the membership and leadership of the party. We wanted a party that will embrace all Nigerians. It was this that informed the principle that both the National Chairman and Secretary will not be of the same religion, tribe or region.
“Sadly, APC has now transited into an Islamic Party of Nigeria. All the members of the NWC from the North and some from the South are Muslims. They campaigned on an Islamization platform and are striving hard to run the government as such but for the resistance of the other religions.
“All that is now left for the party is a change of name, but even this may not take long since it already has the Kadmul Islam as its National Chairman, and a Muslim as National Secretary. The Deputy National Chairman North (who acts in the absence of the Chairman), National Organizing Secretary, National Legal Adviser, and three National Vice Chairmen and more, are Muslims. Good for them.
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“And talking of electoral value, both the National Chairman and the National Secretary just dramatically lost in the March election. I suspect Mallam Felix didn’t do well in his own constituency either. It is based on these considerations that I pity a Christian who finds himself in the position of a spokesperson of an Islamic party. Mark my words, all critical decisions will be taken behind his back during the afternoon prayer sessions which he will be unable to attend.
“We want a Nigeria that works for all. We want a Nigeria that even sycophants can relate to and in which everyone is free to pursue their ambitions in peace in pursuit of prosperity and a good life. We want a Nigeria that guarantees freedom of speech for its citizens just as you and I are doing right now.
“If as Bola Tinubu claims he fought Abacha on the side of democracy and free speech, it is unbecoming and unacceptable that the NBC should threaten journalists under his watch; so is it indefensible to keep the EFCC Chairman and the CBN governor under arrest for extended periods of time without or before trial, just as it is also unacceptable that political parties are used to intimidate and harass citizens exercising their opinions in the public domain.