Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has said that same religion ticket shouldn’t have been a problem in Nigeria had the country not been crawling.
He said religion shouldn’t be a problem in a “normal society” and that Nigeria has not attained such a “norm”.
The 88-year-old playwright spoke on Channels Television’s Newsnight on Monday.
“I don’t give a damn if the president vice-President, the speaker, etc. all come from the same village, they have the same religion, they belong to the same tribe.
“If, however, it is transparently, absolutely, unarguable that is a kind of genius breed that has been donated to the nation and to the world, as long as the capability of the individuals who are into governance is proven, and it is quite clear that there is no alternative, that is my position.”
“Now, we are talking about a society which is normal, which institutions are normal…Is Nigeria normal? Because if it is this whole thought would have perished ages ago.
“I won’t be surprised if a number of people find such choice questionable and unwise at this time especially in a relative country like Nigeria.”
“Everyone is entitled to his opinion but this arrangement shouldn’t be an issue where there are other alternatives.”
Soyinka’s comments came months after APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, had announced former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.
Tinubu and Shettima are Muslims, a development that has continued to attract criticisms from the Christian Association of Nigeria the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, among others.