MURIC Director Prof Akintola says APC's Muslim-Muslim ticket is a game-changer

The Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola has said the decision of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pick a fellow Muslim, Alhaji Kassim Shettima, as his running mate will win him the election. In an interview with The Vanguard, Prof Akintola said: “In spite of all the hullabaloo, the Muslim-Muslim ticket is going to be the game changer. The names of Tinubu and Shettima are on everyone’s lip in the North. The South West has caught the Jagaban fever. The last time I checked, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was counting his losses to Peter Obi in the South East. Yet the latter is feverishly searching for a foothold in the Arewa kingdom. He is yet to find one. Ceteris paribus, the Muslim-Muslim ticket is a fait accompli. But I will appeal to Tinubu’s supporters not to be too complacent. There is still a lot of work to be done. Exempli gratia, there are fences to be mended. The divine factor is also very important. We need to pray. We need to put everything in the hands of Allah.

We must not forget what happened to the June 12 1993 election. It was criminally annulled by enemies of democracy. Nigerians voted massively for Chief M. K. O. Abiola. We wanted him to be the president. But Allah decided otherwise. This time around we must make Allah the numero uno among our consultants. I call on Asiwaju’s supporters to pray, pray and pray. Ora et labora, i.e. work and pray.” On why Tinubu will win the election, he said: “Is it not self-evident? Even the blind can see it. We are talking about pedigree here. Asiwaju’s political curriculum vitae is not only impressive, it is intimidating. It is primus inter pareil. He was already a senator when some of those contesting against him today had not even given politics a single thought. He has mentored countless numbers of men and women. Asiwaju can point at Lagos today and beat his chest.”