Tinubu reaches out to Christian Association of Nigeria and Arewa Pastors in bid to douse anger

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has reportedly opened talks with religious bodies across the country in a bid to usage the anger that his decision to go with a fellow Muslim as his running mate has caused.

Last  month, Asiwaju Tinubu emerged as the APC presidential candidate after coasting home in a landslide victory following the party's convention in Abuja. Following his victory, he laboured to select a running mate after publicly declaring that he will pick a Christian from the northeast geo-political zone as his deputy but the process appeared fraught with difficulty.

Earlier this month, however, after weeks of prevarication, Asiwaju Tinubu, himself a Muslim, ended up selecting a fellow Muslim in former Borno State governor Senator Kashim Shettima. His choice has polarised the country as the Christian faithful feel highly marginalised and already, several senior party members have left the APC over the matter.

Keen to dose the anger, the Tinubu Campaign Organisation (TCO) said their principal has opened talks with religious bodies and stakeholders in the country in the face of the controversy. However, the Christian Association of Nigeria and Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association, have denied any knowledge of such a move, adding that no emissaries have approached them.

Last week, the Redeemed Christian Church of God issued a disclaimer debunking a purported meeting between its general overseer Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Asiwaju Tinubu at its Redemption Camp headquarters in Ogun State. However, TCO spokesman Bayo Onanuga, said his principal has started consultations with relevant stakeholders, including religious bodies.

Mr Onanuga said: “We are not publicising in the media but we are talking to the people concerned and the consultation process has started already. We are just not making a lot of noise about it because it is not meant for publication.

 “When it is time, we will address the media but for now, we are talking to religious leaders. I am reassuring you again that the candidate is reaching out to everybody concerned.”

However, Christian Association of Nigeria general secretary, Joseph Daramola, said: “I don’t know about that. I am in Abuja presently and I can tell you that I have not seen or met anybody that looks like Tinubu in person.”

Reverend Luke Shehu, the president of Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association, added: “Nobody among the Arewa pastors was reached by Tinubu or any member of his team. However, we are open to talks and have no reservations about Tinubu or anybody visiting.”