…By Malcolm Hemsworth for TDPel Media. Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2023 elections, has strongly criticized Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, over his recent statement regarding the perceived dominance of Muslims in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Adebayo denounced El-Rufai’s comments, describing them as divisive bigotry, and warned against the potential for his political agenda to incite religious crises in Nigeria.
In a viral video circulating on social media, El-Rufai allegedly addressed his audience before handing over to his successor, claiming that the Islamic dominance in Kaduna had been successfully replicated across the country and would continue to prevail.
According to reports, El-Rufai stated that during election campaigns, when Christians questioned the Muslim/Muslim ticket, he deceived them by asserting that it was not driven by religious dominance.
However, it was alleged that the tickets, both at the national and state levels, were indeed aimed at establishing Islamic domination.
Furthermore, El-Rufai was purported to have remarked that Bola Tinubu’s victory had silenced the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and declared his intention to sustain an Islamic-dominated government not only in Kaduna State but throughout Nigeria for the next 20 years and beyond.
In response to the video, Adebayo took to his Twitter account to express his condemnation of El-Rufai’s statements.
He criticized the inherent provocative and divisive bigotry within El-Rufai’s remarks, emphasizing that a political agenda founded on ethnicity and religion goes against the principles of a diverse and pluralistic Nigeria.
Adebayo called for respect towards all the various components that make up the country.
Adebayo’s response highlights the importance of fostering unity and understanding in Nigeria, a nation characterized by its diversity.
He rejects the notion of promoting any political agenda that seeks to divide people based on religious or ethnic backgrounds, advocating instead for a Nigeria that embraces inclusivity and respects all its citizens.