The Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), Abdulmumin Jibrin, says a Muslim-Muslim ticket does not matter as long as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, becomes the presidential candidate of the ruling party in the 2023 general elections.
Jibrin, who is a former member of the House of Representatives also led the campaign for Femi Gbajabiamila to become Speaker of the 9th House.
He said Nigerians are more interested in the quality of persons to occupy public offices than religious affiliations.
Speaking on if it is true that the former Governor of Lagos State is running for president, the ex-lawmaker said, “Yes, he is running. He is running for office… for the Presidency in 2023. Take it to the bank, he is running. Absolutely. We have discussed this with him extensively. So much is going on now behind the scene.
“Sometimes, I even find it a bit funny when I see people saying ‘is he contesting or is he not contesting?’ The only thing that is left is just the formality of organizing when he is going to express his aspiration, just to notify the public that, ‘Yes, I am going to contest.’ But the issue of Bola Tinubu contesting is a done deal. He is going to contest the election, I can assure you that. Insha Allah, he is going to be on the ballot paper.”
Answering a question of the ethnoreligious configuration should Tinubu, a Muslim, emerge as the candidate of the APC, Jibrin said, “I completely agree and understand that our country is sensitive when it comes to politics, the issue of ethnic and religious considerations. It is very serious. Nobody can sweep that under the carpet.”
He added, “But talking personally and weighing the mood of the country, I can assure you that if you give people a choice of someone who will come and improve on what we already have on the ground, and revamp the economy and increase every aspect and every part of the country, people will just want to see progress. People just want to see development. For me, it doesn’t matter.
“If you bring a Christian-Christian presidency or a Muslim-Muslim presidency, for me, personally, it doesn’t matter. Even within the party and my TSG, we have had this conversation.”
