Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, a former Labour Party vice presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s administration is harming Islam’s reputation.
Baba-Ahmed gave a speech during a political gathering hosted by Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
He discussed what he called a delicate but important topic pertaining to representation and leadership during the discussion.
“There’s a question you wanted, but let me take the liberty, if you are afraid to ask it,” he said, adding that such discussions require courage.
“It’s not easy for me to say this but it must be said. This is not about religion. If you are presenting religion, then present genuine candidates who will govern by the dictates of their faith.
“If you are bringing a Christian, we want a genuine Christian. If you are bringing a Muslim, we want a genuine Muslim”, he added.
According to Baba-Ahmed, “the world of Islam has never suffered reputational damage as under Tinubu, Shettima leadership.”
He cited former presidents to support his claim that governance has been linked to justice and peace in many Muslim-led nations. However, the former senator added that his remarks were meant to highlight the need of sincerity in leadership rather than to elevate faith above skill.
His remarks come amid outrage that trailed the Tinubu-Shettima ticket in 2023, being a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Also, in recent times, there have been a christian genocide allegations on communities which once prompted the US President Donald Trump to declare Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, is now a presidential aspirant under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
