Let’s not use religion for selfish interests, Walid Jibrin tells politicians

• Be careful in using religion to solve selfish activities, Jibrin to Nigerians

Former Chairman of the board of trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Walid Jibrin has implored politicians in the country not to use religion for selfish ends.

Jibrin while addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Kaduna decried the religious divide between Muslims and Christians in the country.

According to Jibrin, leaders had ruled successfully in the past without discriminating against anybody on the basis of religion or tribe.

“I am calling on all Nigerians to be very careful in using religion to solve their selfish activities,” he said.

“In Nigeria today, we have Muslims and Christians who live peacefully by working together with everyone practising his or her religion based on the belief of their Quran and Bible.

“Since independence, we had devoted leaders who ruled Nigeria successfully without using religion to ginger their successes and they were fully accepted by Nigerians.

The former PDP BOT chairman made a reference to a comment attributed to Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, that he used religion to win the last election in the state.

A Twitter user identified as Will. E, in June had posted a video where el-Rufai, flanked by Uba Sani, his successor, was seen addressing a group of Muslims in Hausa after Bola Tinubu was declared winner of the presidential election.

In the video, el-Rufai said religion was used to win the election.

However, the former governor said claims that he said President Bola Tinubu used religion to win the presidential election, were manufactured falsehoods.

“Recent pronouncements by a former governor from the northern part of the country that he used Muslim-Muslim agenda successfully to rule in the best way in his state contrary to the behaviour of some Christians is unfortunate,” Jibrin said.

“He further announced that he used a Muslim governor and Muslim deputy governor successfully in his state in the north.

“May I point out that Kaduna was successfully used by some northern leaders for total advancement of the north using both Muslim and Christian leaders?

“Sardauna of Sokoto used many Christian leaders to assist in his administration of the north.

“Such Christian leaders like Chief Sunday Awoniyi is one good example of Christian leader among many used by the Sardauna of Sokoto.

“To openly say that he used Muslim- Muslim ticket to help him administer his state very well and against the lukewarm attitude of Christian contributions is very disturbing.

“The governor should have used his so-called abilities to bring Muslims and Christians together thereby making his state an exemplary state.”