Atiku wades into same faith presidential ticket debate saying he and Tinubu fell out over the matter in 2007

FORMER vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has added his voice to the ongoing debate about same faith presidential tickets saying that he and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu fell out in 2007 over the matter because the former Lagos State governor wanted to stand with him.

When Nigeria goes to the polls in February, Alhaji Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) will be up against Asiwaju Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Both men are Muslims and while Alhaji Abubakar has picked a Christian running mate in Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta Stare, Asiwaju Tinubu has attracted the chagrin of Nigerian Christians by picking a fellow Muslim in former Borno State governor Senator Kashim Shettima.

Nigerian Christians are currently up in arms with Asiwaju Tinubu over his move as sensing the anger, he tried to pull a fast one earlier this week when he presented senator Shettima to the media. At the ceremony in Abuja, he dressed up APC and hired hands in Christian cassocks and robes in a bid to show that he has the support of the clergy.

However, the scam was easily seen through as several of the APC youths were recognised and they also failed to observe normal Christian protocols. Many who dressed as Catholic priests for instance were wearing robes which were only worn in church during mass.

Wading into the same faith debate, Alhaji Abubakar said his relationship with Asiwaju Tinubu took a turn for the worse in 2007 when the former Lagos State governor wanted him to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket but he refused. Atiku who was the then presidential candidate of the now-defunct Action Congress, said Asiwaju Tinubu wanted to be his running mate but he could not accept the suggestion.

Atiku, who ended up picking Ben Obi as his running mate, eventually lost the election to late President Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP. Speaking with Arise TV earlier today, Atiku said he became politically estranged with Asiwaju Tinubu after he presented Mr Obi as his running mate.

He added: “He insisted on running with me and I didn’t believe it was right to have a Muslim-Muslim ticket. That was the point of my fundamental departure with him.”