Tinubu, Shettima Were Not Elected By Muslims Alone – Rev. Joseph Hayab

Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, NCA, Rev. Joseph Hayab, has said that President Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima were not elected by Muslims alone in the 2023 general elections. He recently had his say while reacting to comments by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, who defended Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking on Channels Television, Hayab described the comments as unacceptable, arguing that the 2023 presidential election showed that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket received support from Christian-majority states and communities.

Hayab added that it was worrisome to see the Islamic cleric make the statement in the presence of political leaders who did not immediately reject or rebuke him.

His words, “Will you tell me that the current Muslim Muslim ticket that you claim to have put was only elected by Muslims? No, sir. I can count states that are mostly Christian. The man won in those states.

We only wanted understanding and togetherness, as enshrined in our Constitution.

If you respect me, you do not come out publicly and make such a derogatory statement against me, against my faith, just for politics. It is no longer politics. It is the reality that has been going on on the ground.

Nigeria’s pretence over allegations of persecution and discrimination against Christians had finally come to an end.

There is always a day when you will no longer pretend. We have been living in pretence in Nigeria, lying to ourselves that we are together, lying to each other that there is unity and lying to each other that we are co-citizens.

But for us as Christians in the North, we know these preachers have always been there for all these decades. So, I think Sheikh Jingir just found an opportunity to open up what has been happening in secret.

The man did not just say it in his room. The man said it in the presence of three governors, and they were all smiling.

An action that would have been frowned upon, an action that would have been rebuked, an action that would have been rejected instantly.

Some months ago, we had controversy in this Nigerian debate around whether Christian genocide is happening and whether Christians have been persecuted. Many people said, ‘No, that is not true.’

Today, Nigerians do not need to ask another question unless you want to pretend. The pretence has ended. We can see it clearly. We can hear it clearly.

We are waiting to see the reaction of those governors. Whatever stopped them from reacting that day is another different thing. We are going to see what they are going to say.

Then, we will see the reaction of the Federal Government. We will see the reaction of those candidates whom the man is campaigning for, whether they like such.

We will not stop the dialogue. We will talk with honest people and clerics. We will talk with people who understand things rightly.

But we should also call out people like Jingir and others. And when we call them out, government can now act responsibly and know that these people are creating bigger problems for us than uniting Nigeria.

Nigeria needs unity. Nigeria needs togetherness.

Nigerians are suffering from hunger. There is insecurity in Nigeria. Our people are not reminding themselves to do what is right to secure Nigeria and to contribute to nation building.

Instead, they are busy coming up with divisive rhetoric, insulting fellow citizens and smiling while someone insults other citizens. It is a shame.”