Nigerians are urged to embrace national unity in diversity, national integration, and cohesiveness despite their differences, according to Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, Director-General of the independent political support organization National Unity Movement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (NUMBAT).
The group stated that it is endorsing Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, due to his detribalized and religiously tolerant nature. The group is collaborating with other patriotic citizens across religious and ethnic divides to promote national unity in diversity in advance of the general elections in 2023.
In response to a statement made by a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Showunmi, criticizing Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for selecting Senator Kashim Shettima, a Muslim, as his running mate, Hon. Faparusi urged Nigerians to embrace “national unity and shun ethnic and religious politics.”
“What Nigerians should consider while voting in 2023 is placing competence and merit above religious and ethnic consideration in choosing leaders that would steer the affairs of the nation in the right direction,” he asserts.
In a statement released on Monday through Chief Joseph Undu, Director of Media and Publicity at NUMBAT, Faparusi also urged Nigerians to register as voters and cast a large number of ballots for Tinubu in 2023, claiming that the APC candidate is the only one among the contenders for president who truly understands Nigeria, its diversity, and its problems, as well as having the ability to address them to the satisfaction of all.
A former member of the National Assembly and commissioner for Ekiti state, Hon. Faparusi called Tinubu a “great patriot, a man who has detribalized Nigeria, a man who is tolerant of all religions, and a believer in one God, one humanity.”
He claimed that Tinubu’s appointment of non-Lagos natives to his cabinet as governor of Lagos demonstrated his credibility as a guy whom Nigerians could trust.
“Despite the Muslim-Muslim ticket, we are aware of Nigeria’s secular status and believe Tinubu is best suited to defend it. We do not fear religious dominance or repression.”
“Despite our diverse religious inclinations, ethnic backgrounds, and political orientations, NUMBAT, an independent political support group, is collaborating with other patriotic citizens across religious and ethnic divides to assiduously promote national unity in diversity, national integration, and cohesion,” stated Fapalusi.
The DG went on to characterize Asiwaju as a man of faith but not a religious bigot; he demonstrated his religion of progress and development in Lagos while serving as a governor, and for this reason Nigerians of all racial and religious backgrounds should support Tinubu to be the country’s next president.
Since Asiwaju is a unifier with a national footprint, let’s concentrate on what brings our country together. We implore our imams and clerics to speak from the pulpit with love and unity instead of with inflammatory and polarizing messages.
When choosing who to vote for in 2023, “NUMBAT is set to mobilize Nigerians to see themselves beyond ethics and religious lenses.”
Following a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, on Sunday, Tinubu announced Senator Shettima as his running partner. This announcement has not stopped stirring up debate among various national stakeholders.
