Insecurity, oil theft more urgent than Ticket Musulman-Musulman

Governor Hope Uzodinma of IMO State said that insecurity and the theft of oil in the country are more important issues than the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congresses (APC), Bola Tinubu.

Mr Uzodinma said this on Friday shortly after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

The governor called on the Nigerian media to help Nigerians stop the debate over the controversial note, but shift their focus to how to support the fight against crude oil theft and growing insecurity in the country.

“First, the mood of the country today is not about who the candidates are. The mood of the country is that two or three years ago we were producing 2.1 million barrels of crude oil every day,” he said.

“Look at the amount of banditry taking place in Nigeria today. To the extent that bandits are even bravely entering the capital. We must stand up in unison and condemn these activities,” Mr. Uzodinma added.

The governor said the activities of the oil thieves have caused a significant drop in oil production in the country, saying Nigerians should be worried about the situation, not the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

APC presidential candidate Mr Tinubu, a southern Muslim, recently chose Kashim Shettima, a former governor of Borno State and a northern Muslim, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

The post had sparked wide debate across the country, with various groups such as the Christian Association of Nigeria claiming the decision was insensitive to religious realities in Nigeria.

Some APC leaders also criticized the ticket.

Mr. Tinubu, however, said he chose Mr. Shettima because of his skill and not his religious belief.

APC member Mr Uzodinma said those who were driving the debate on religion and ethnicity ahead of the 2023 general election were working against the country.

He said those fueling the discussion on the ticket should allow Nigerians to choose their favorite candidate at the polls in 2023.

“We should focus on things that will unite the country. And please, by the grace of God, leave those things that are capable of tearing the country apart. Our national interest is important. Our national unity is important. Our ability to live together as brothers and sisters is also important,” the APC Governor said.

“These are things that should occupy our minds now. But if you throw Nigeria into a situation where religious dichotomy, ethnic chauvinism will be at the forefront, that means you are working against Nigeria,” he said.

Purpose of the visit

The governor said he was at the State House to seek the president’s approval for the conversion of Federal Medical Center Owerri into a Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital.

“Thus, if it is transformed into a university hospital, it would be made available to the Federal University of Technology for the maintenance and management of the medical faculty approved by National Universities Commission,” he said.

The governor said his visit was also aimed at asking Mr Buhari to convert the Alvan Ikoku College of Education into the Federal University of Education, Owerri.

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He said the Nigerian government had started the process of taking over the college under the administration of former Nigerian President, Umaru Yar’Adua, but the process had been put on hold as the college could not meet certain requirements.

“Now that the school has met all the requirements expected of them, I have come to implore Mr. President to order the lifting of the suspension, so that Alvan Ikoku College of Education becomes the Federal University of Owerri’s education,” the governor noted.

“I am so excited that Mr. President has assured me that both of these requests will be approved.”