Plateau State Governor, North Central Nigeria, Simon Bako Lalong says he has no basis to reject the position of Director-General of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential campaign council.
Gatekeepers News reports that Lalong made the denial while addressing State House correspondents after a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the villa, Abuja.
The APC national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu announced Lalong’s appointment on August 4.
He added that the choice of Lalong as DG of the campaign council is based on his capacity to deliver.
The APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu picked Kashim Shettima, the former governor of Borno, who is also a Muslim, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.
The development has elicited criticism from key stakeholders, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Lalong come under criticism for accepting the role and supporting the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
He noted that he respects his faith as a Christian, Lalong noted, however, that he was elected governor for the entire people irrespective of their faith, adding that since politics was about interest, he is a bonafide member of the APC and will therefore not engage in anti-party activities.
He said he also wonders where all those who claimed to be Christians and are opposed to his appointment as DG against their faith are coming from.
He said that he was at the Presidential Villa to thank the President for approving a number of infrastructural projects and for granting presidential pardon to the former governor of the state, Senator Joshua Dariye as well of a former governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame who were convicted for corruption charges.
Lalong said nobody can dissuade him from performing his responsibilities, having already accepted the position.
He also said as a Catholic, the Pope has not informed him that it is improper for him to serve as the director-general of the APC presidential campaign team.
He added that the Plateau state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) came to the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Jos, to welcome him after his appointment as the APC presidential campaign DG.
Lalong said the appointment had nothing to do with religion, and was strictly a party affair.
He also advised Nigerians to focus on issues beyond ethnicity or religious sentiments, and denied claims that he lobbied to become Tinubu’s running mate for the presidential election.
