Says APC deviated from unity norms
Omamus Thomas l Tuesday, July 12, 2022
LAGOS, Nigeria – Nollywood superstar and former member of Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo has resigned his membership of the party.
In his resignation letter, the Nollywood star said he is resigning following the decision of the presidential flag bearer of APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is a Muslim to pick a fellow Muslim as his running mate despite the current mood in the nation.
Recall that Tinubu on Monday announced the former governor of Borno, Mr. Kasim Shettima as his running mate and justified the reason by saying that his party is a leading light and that he is replicating the late Chief MKO Abiola, who won the 1993 presidential race with a Muslim, Muslim ticket. Tinubu: Why I chose Shettima, a fellow Muslim as running mate – Starconnect Media
Besides, he said that by the decision of Tinubu, the APC has deviated from the motto of Nigeria; Unity and faith, peace and progress: “ I therefore resign my membership of the All Progressive Congress to enable me focus on building the Nigeria of our dream with the motto: Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”.
Kenneth Okonkwo recalled that he joined the APC, which he believed to be a true progressive party to eliminate all forms of discrimination and social injustice in Nigeria, thereby building a nation which will guarantee equal opportunity for all and ensure mutual and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
He explained that under his ward leadership, he was able to carry along a Chief Imam of an Army Barrack as an executive of his ward.
“Those ideas are now alien to the APC, with their unfortunate decisions to paint our Muslim brothers in bad light by insinuating that the Muslims in Nigeria will not accept or vote for a Northern Christian as Vice President to pair with a Southern Muslim.
“If Muslims could vote voluntarily for Southern Christian Presidents, it is then a fallacy to insinuate that they cannot accept a Northern Christian Vice President. This will permanently destroy the political viability of Northern Christians in Nigeria if allowed to stand. This is in addition to their failure to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, which should be their primary responsibility. The economy is also in tatters”, he said.
Kenneth Okonkwo, who is also a lawyer explained that being the convener of the Campaign for Equity and Justice in Nigeria, and as a former member of the APC presidential council, which resisted same religion Presidential ticket in the past(Muslim Muslim), “I can no longer continue to lend my name to this abnormalities in the interest of mutual peaceful coexistence, integration and progress of our beloved country, Nigeria”.
