Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Barr. Solomon Dalung, has countered the argument in favour of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, insisting that religious identity cannot substitute for good governance, security and economic development.
Dalung, in a post on his social media handle reacting to comments attributed to Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, questioned the rationale for supporting a Muslim-Muslim ticket on the basis of religious numbers in Nigeria.
He said such an argument reduces the country’s democratic process to religious arithmetic rather than focusing on issues affecting the lives and welfare of citizens.
“So, according to Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, a Muslim-Muslim ticket is now a census? This is where political argument becomes dangerous nonsense,” Dalung said.
The former minister argued that a Muslim-Muslim presidency or political ticket would not automatically address the security and economic challenges confronting Nigerians.
“A Muslim-Muslim ticket does not put food on a Muslim family’s table. It does not secure a kidnapped Muslim farmer. It does not give a Muslim child a good school. It does not reduce the price of fuel, food or medicine,” he stated.
Dalung also criticised what he described as the use of divisive religious language in political discourse, particularly references to non-Muslims as “infidels.”
He questioned the identity of those being described as infidels, noting that Nigerians of different faiths are fellow citizens, neighbours and participants in the country’s democratic process.
“Your fellow citizens? Your neighbours? The people whose taxes help fund the government? The Christians who have voted for Muslim candidates? The Muslims who reject religious politics?” he asked.
Dalung maintained that Nigeria should not be treated as a religious battleground where one faith seeks to establish superiority over another.
He said supporters of a Muslim-Muslim ticket should instead defend it on the basis of competence, justice, security, economic progress and good governance, rather than religious numerical strength.
According to him, the real majority that matters in a democracy is not the number of worshippers in a mosque or church, but Nigerians who desire a country with security, jobs, affordable food, functional hospitals, good schools and equal treatment for all citizens.
“What Nigerians should be shown is good governance, justice, security, jobs, affordable food, functioning hospitals and schools, and a government that treats every citizen as equal,” Dalung said.
