A member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Shina Peller has explained why a Christian from the south should be allowed to become the next president of Nigeria ahead of the 2023 elections.
According to Peller, for the sake of equity and justice, a Christian from the southern extraction should be the next president, adding it will balance the political equation of the country.
The lawmaker, who represents the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo State made the call in Abuja on Sunday.
“There should be a President that probably should be Christian and as you see I am a Muslim. So, me forcing myself because of the clamour of you people to take that Presidency position, it is like I am being unfair.
Because I believe Nigeria has gotten to a stage where we need to consider people of other religions. In this administration, we have three arms of government. The Executive arm of government, President Muhammadu Buhari is a Muslim, the legislative arm, Gbajabiamila and Lawan are Muslims, and the judiciary, we have Tanko Muhammed as a Muslim. Where is the true share of the Christians? So, for me even if anybody wants me to contest, there are still other factors that I will put into consideration,” he said.
Speaking on the kind of leader Nigeria needs, he said the country needs a young president, adding that “truly, Nigeria needs someone that is energetic and successful both in the private and public sector. Nigeria needs a detribalized leader to take the seat of the Presidency.
That position is just something that should be the opinion of a group or a person. I believe it should be a decision of everybody. We should get to a stage where we put into consideration important qualities of what kind of leader we want in Nigeria”.
The lawmaker had earlier declared his intention to run for the presidency but dropped his ambition citing the exorbitant price of the Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) which goes for N100m.
