The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has dismissed allegation that he has no regard for Christians, saying that his children are Christians.
The presidential candidate at an interactive session with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said he cannot supress any Nigerian for the choice of faith.
“I can no more suppress the Christians of this nation than I can suppress the Christians in my own household, my very family. You all know my wife is Christian and a pastor. My children are Christians. I can no more disown them and their choice of faith than I can disown myself. As a husband and father to Christian wife and children, hearing such allegations is hurtful. However, that individual discomfort will not deter me from the job at hand.”
While responding to those who described him as a religious bigot, he said the rumour that his choice for Kashim Shettima is some plot to suppress the Christian community is untrue and unfortunate.
The former Lagos governor dismissed claims saying the choice of Shettima had nothing to do with religion.
He noted that the ticket was constructed as a same progressive and people- based ideology ticket.
Tinubu further added that he selected Senator Shettima thinking more about who would best help him ” govern.”
While listing his historical support for the church, Tinubu said his belief in the need for secular government and faith-based organizations to work unison is not something adopted recently to benefit his campaign.
“I never chased people out of Lagos nor made them feel unwanted. Under my administration Lagos welcomed all comers and continues to do so today. After me, Lagos has had one Muslim and two Christian governors. I may not be perfect. What human being is? But I am not a petty man secretly wedded to secret biases and prejudices,” he clarified.