I am not a religious fanatic – Buhari opens up
Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has responded to those who label him as a religious fanatic as he gets ready to represent his party, the All Progressives Party in the upcoming elections in 2015.
Buhari spoke with an online news platform, TheCable, saying his antecedents show that he is not a religious fanatic.
Buhari who has thrice contested and lost the presidential election in 2003, 2007 and 2011 said he is yet undecided on the issue of picking a Christian or Muslim running mate if he eventually gets the nod of the APC to fly its flag in next year’s elections.
He said, “Nigerians will always uncover impossible room for manoeuvre for politicians. I had to face one of the governors during one of our party’s meetings (over the issue of religion).
“In 2003, I chose Chuba Okadigbo as my running mate. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. In 2007, I picked Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. And in 2010, I chose even a pastor, Pastor Tunde Bakare.
“Honestly, what do Nigerians want me to do? If they don’t believe I’m not a fundamentalist, what else can I
do?”
According to him, the issue on ground is not about religion but rather about the best individual to move the country forward.
Buhari likened his situation to that of Moshood Abiola, a southern Muslim, who picked Babagana Kingibe, a northern Muslim, as his running mate in the June 12, 1993 presidential election. He recalled that the Muslim-Muslim ticket went on to win the election that is still considered by many as the most credible in Nigeria’s history.
He said, “I have not absolutely closed my mind to picking a Christian or Muslim as running mate if I get the ticket. I firmly believe that Nigerians, having gone through what they have gone through, realise it is not a matter of religion, but a matter of Nigeria.
“And the main religions, Christianity and Islam, they know and they believe in the Almighty God. The question of stealing and short-changing people in the name of religion should stop,” he said.
“For goodness sake, the children of these political leaders were bred and brought up by Christian mothers. You think those people, wherever they participate, they will bring a religious issue? What kind of people are we?
“Nigerians will always bring something to cause confusion while we are trying to stabilise the system.”
