From Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Progressives Forum has endorsed the former Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Dogara Yakubu as the presidential running mate of the party’s presidential candidate, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The National Chairman of the Forum, Rt. Hon. Ukkasha Umar Rahama who disclosed this while addressing a press conference in Bauchi Tuesday, noted that the aftermath of the presidential primary election that produced the former Lagos state Governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu has left the party with the challenge of picking the running mate.
The Forum which endorsed the former speaker Dogara from the Northeast said it will go a long way in balancing the political equation in the Country.
Ukkasha who noted that the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC presidential has opened another political discussions, opined that, to strike a balance, Tinubu and the leadership of party should consider the choice of Dogara as the vice President.
The forum observed that in a secular and multicultural country like Nigeria, it is given that broad considerations should be made to accommodate all interest groups in leadership for equity and fairness not only to be done but be seen to have been done.
Ukkasha said that the decision of the forum to address the Press on the issue was to calm nerves and draw the attention of the APC to prioritise justice, fairness and equity in the selection of the vice Presidential Candidate.
“The subject of our consideration of Dogara as a good material for Tinubu is not ceaded along his tribe nor his religion but his political wealth of experience”, they said.
The APC youth Forum maintained that Dogara is one of the outspoken legislature who has built relationships as the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives.
He pointed out that many are of the opinion that, since Tinubu is a Muslim from the Southern part of the country, it is expected that a Christian from the Northern part of the country be chosen as the vice president for the APC to have a balanced ticket to convince Nigerians to vote for it.
The forum which said, emphasis should not be place on Religious or ethnic sentiment, however noted that their emphasis on Dogara is based on credibility and competency.
Ukkasha said if the former speaker becomes the vice President, he will compliment Tinubu’s competency for Peace and Unity to reign in Nigeria.
The choice of Yakubu Dogara as Vice President will send the party’s message across that, it is not just for all Nigerians but that, it is sensitive to the demand for equity by all sections of the country”, the forum noted.
The forum observed that selecting the former speaker Dogara as the vice presidential candidate of the APC would further boost the chances of the party at the general elections, as Christians from both the southern and northern parts of country would not feel allienated from the APC because of the VP factor while Muslims from all parts of the country would also have a sense of belonging in the party because of faith of the presidential candidate.