Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Popular Nollywood actor and convener of the Campaign for Equity and Justice in Nigeria, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, has reportedly dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The actor made the announcement through a statement he tendered to the APC Chairman of Nkpunano Ward in Nsukka, Enugu State, on Monday.
Mr. Kenneth, in the letter, said he had “joined the APC because of it’s constitutional vow as true Progressives and Patriots, to eliminate all forms of discrimination and social injustice in Nigeria.”
He recalled that they had lived up to the Party’s vow in their ward by ensuring that the Chief Imam of an Army Barack Mosque was made an executive member of the ward.
“Those ideals are now alien to the APC, with their unfortunate decision to paint our Muslim brothers in bad light, by insinuating that the Muslims in Nigeria will not accept or vote for a northern Christian as Vice-President to pair with a southern Muslim.
“If Muslims could vote voluntarily for southern Christian Presidents it is then a fallacy to insinuate that they cannot accept a northern Christian Vice-President.
“This will permanently destroy the political viability of northern Christians in Nigeria, if allowed to stand. This is in addition to their failure to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, which should be their primary responsibility. The economy is also in tatters.” The statement read in part.
Meanwhile, another APC chieftain, Daniel Bwala, has also resigned his membership of the party over the choice of former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima.
With Shettima, another Muslim announced as running mate to Tinubu, the ruling APC against widespread opinion, is offering Nigerians a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Bwala in a tweet said: “Tonight I officially resigned my membership of @OfficialAPCN on principles and conviction that I hold so dear. At this time of our national existence, our efforts and energy should gravitate towards uniting our people.”
According to him, the resort to a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC shows a lack of principle which he said a political party should be built upon.
Bwala also said he dumped the APC because of its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket which goes against his principle that unity of the country should take precedence over any other considerations.
Bwala debunked the insinuation that Muslims in the North would not vote for Tinubu if he chose a Christian as running mate. He argued that it was a myth created by the political class in the North citing that the region voted Goodluck Jonathan over Muhammadu Buhari in 2011.
