In a statement, Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam, a social justice peace advocate, on Friday said neither he nor his wife, Prof. Funmi Para-Mallam was aware of their nomination as members of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as their consent was not sought.
Insisting that he is not a card-carrying member of any political party in the country, Para-Mallam said the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had taken a position against the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the APC and its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, despite the national outcry.
There are about eight members of CAN who are opposed to the Muslim-Muslim ticket on the list of the APC campaign council.
In the statement, Para-Mallam said his name was smuggled into the Campaign Council list by APC.
He said: “My attention has been drawn to a list in circulation which indicates that I (or my wife – Prof. (Funmi) Para-Mallam) have been nominated to serve in the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council. Neither of us is aware of this nomination and our consent was not sorted.
“Nigeria is a great country; our present setbacks notwithstanding. But I believe that Nigeria will be great again. I love this country. I am not a partisan politician. I am a clergyman and a social justice peace advocate. I am non-partisan. I am also not a card-carrying member of any political party in Nigeria today (not that it would be wrong, but I am not at moment).
“Besides, CAN has taken a position against any Muslim-Muslim ticket and any Christian-Christian ticket. I respect that decision. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country. This contextual reality needs to show in the way our political parties play their politics through fair internal party politics.
“Accepting to serve in the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council will negate this fundamental reality of what we are as a multi-religious country. Politics of inclusiveness should override politics of exclusion not just in 2023 but beyond.
“I, therefore, wish to distance myself from membership of any campaign team of any political party in the forthcoming 2023 elections. I have some respected and close friends in all the major political parties. I will continue to work to promote political harmony and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. May God give Nigeria peaceful 2023 elections.
“God bless Nigeria and guide both the parties and Nigerians as the campaign season commences.”