Leader of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and President of The Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Wale Oke, has warned against plan for an all Muslim ticket ahead of 2023 presidential election, saying doing so could spell doom for a country already struggling with religious and others issues.
He said there are people who think they have the power to decide what would happen, but added that God will not allow what he called 'satanic agenda' to prevail in the next election.
"It is disturbing that with the 2023 general elections fast approaching, some politicians who are hell-bent on further scuttling the fragile peace in the country, are desperately seeking to foist a Muslim-Muslim political agenda on us, a development that will further throw an unsavoury spanner into the works, fibre and the tenuous peace of the nation,’ Oke said at the grand finale of a five-day Zoe World Congress, tagged Zoe Worship Extravaganza, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
"Nigeria is a nation predominantly populated by Christians and Muslims. In fact, the PFN, which by the grace of God I head today, has a membership strength of over 65 million adherents of Jesus Christ. So, we vehemently say no to a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket; we say no to arrangements that will relegate the Christians to obscurity. This we shall resist by all available lawful means.
"We urge that we follow the routes already taken by the previous administrations of (Olusegun) Obasanjo, (Umar Yar’adua, (Goodluck Jonathan and (Muhammadu) Buhari, so as to avoid the pitiable paths some are trying to tread for selfish reasons and aggrandizement.
"Anyone, who is flying a Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket is satanic and from the pit of hell.The Lord, God of hosts, will crush that satanic agenda. Any party that flies a Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket has failed completely. In fact, it will not only fail, it will scatter!”
"It is only the will of God for Nigeria that shall prevail, not the satanic agenda of any corrupt, selfish, self-centered, unpatriotic, evil politician who thinks he has enough money to buy up the South West of Nigeria, and the whole of the nation.
"Nigeria belongs to all of us and it will only thrive when there’s fairness, equity and justice.This we are calling for in all our engagements in the country. If the two major political parties in the country field Muslim-Muslim candidates, they will both fail.
"What we want is a Christian President. Buhari must hand over to a Christian. Let everybody know that any arrangement short of that will be totally unacceptable to us. The 65-million-strong members of PFN are vehemently opposed to any arrangement of that nature."
Oke's statement may be directed at Tinubu who at the weekend, while addressing some Northern Leaders as he solicited for support, said he has no problem having a Muslim running mate if the North would support his ambition.
“All I need is your support. Leave the rest to me, I will handle it,” he was quoted as saying.
A group, Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF), also released a statement condemning plans for a Muslim-Muslim ticket, warning that such moves will be massively resisted.
“The Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) read with concerns the reported meeting of a frontline politician with some Northern Elders, advocating a Muslim/Muslim ticket, if given the Presidential ticket and many days after, the report has not been refuted.
“Anyone that is seeking the highest political office of the land at the expense of the peace the nation and building of tolerance amongst the diversity of our country, cannot lay claim to being a patriot and would therefore have no business being encouraged or voted to such a position," it said.