By Godwin Isenyo
The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Kaduna State, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, has asked residents to be wary of candidates deploying religion or tribal sentiments ahead of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.
He said such antics were dangerous to democracy.
While faulting the endorsement of candidates by religious bodies, he queried the rationale behind some governorship candidates jostling for clerics to endorse them for the forthcoming poll.
Hunkuyi, while speaking to newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday, stated that eligible voters must shun what he termed as divisive politics and vote for credible candidates that would move the state forward in terms of development. He noted that he stood for an inclusive government that would carry everybody along irrespective of age, tribe when elected as governor in the March 18,2023 poll.
He said, “I think you are aware of a letter by the Kaduna State CAN Chairman, which endorsed the PDP governorship candidate. We also have audio where some Muslim clergymen have also endorsed the candidate of APC for governorship election in Kaduna State.
“Where do we go from here where a governor that will emerge after the poll will be tagged a governor for Christians or a governor for Muslims in this metropolitan state?”
Hunkuyi urged voters to reject candidates adopting religion or tribal sentiments for the purpose of canvassing for votes in the forthcoming election.
“Kaduna State is known as the centre of learning. Therefore, I don’t expect any sensible person whether citizen or resident of the state to be carried away by religious and tribal sentiments.”
Hunkuyi said he was more experienced and knowledgeable in the complexity of the state than other candidates vying for the position. He dismissed allegations that he was also running on Muslim-Muslim ticket.”
He described as laughable the allegation that he was running a Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying a committee set up by the NNPP to select his running mate picked Dr Sani Mazawaje, a Christian, contrary to the allegation.
Hunkuyi noted that he believed in the oneness of the state where nobody would be treated as second class citizens for the purpose of peace and unity; progress, growth and development.
Source: The Punch