Simon Lalong
Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Pope has not told me I am wrong, Lalong tells critics
…Says no basis for me to reject APC presidential campaign DG
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State berated Christians who are against his acceptance to serve as the Director General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organization, saying that as a Catholic with the highest Papal award, the Pope has not told him that what he is doing is wrong.
He said on Wednesday that he has no basis to reject the position of Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, picked Kashim Shettima, the former governor of Borno, who is also a Muslim, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.
The development has since generated controversy, especially among the Christian folks including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) who have since rejected the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Despite defending his choice of Shettima as his running mate, critics have remained adamant considering the religious beliefs of Nigerians.
But Governor Lalong backed the idea of the Muslim-Muslim ticket after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.
In a question and answer session, Lalong noted that as an awardee of Knight of Saint Gregory, he remains a staunch Catholic despite his new responsibility to market a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Governor Lalong maintained that he has enormous respect for his faith as a Christian, noting that he was elected governor for people of all faiths and non-believers as well.
The Plateau leader said he is therefore not sure where those who claimed to be Christians and stand in opposition to his appointment are from.
He reminded that when upon his return to Jos after his recent appointment as the DG, the APC Presidential Campaign organization, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), welcomed him.
Governor Lalong also disclosed that he met with the President to thank him for the presidential pardon granted to former Governor of the State, Joshua Dariye and his Taraba State counterpart, Jolly Nyame who were recently released from incarceration, as well as the approval of several projects cited in Plateau State.
