Muslim-Muslim ticket no longer an issue, says LP’s Arabambi

Michael Olumide Alabi

National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP) faction led by Julius Abure, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reported decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, insisting that competence and national interest should take precedence over religious considerations.

Speaking during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM’s Frontline programme on Monday, Arabambi dismissed renewed criticism surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, arguing that the debate had become outdated and that Nigerians should instead evaluate the administration based on its performance.

According to him, President Tinubu’s choice should be viewed within the context of political realities and governance rather than religion.

“I don’t see any issue in that. It is as clear as snow. The President will soon form his vice-presidential candidacy, and you have to be very cautious about the way the North thinks politically,” he said.

Arabambi maintained that replacing a northern Muslim with a northern Christian might not necessarily produce the desired political outcome, noting that Christians in Northern Nigeria openly acknowledge that they constitute a minority.

“If you decide to pick a northern Christian, even they will tell you they are a minority, and that is the reality. The President will not want to go against the political realities,” he stated.

He also rejected claims that the Muslim-Muslim ticket had contributed to the insecurity or marginalisation of Christians, arguing that criminal activities such as banditry and kidnapping affect Nigerians regardless of their religious beliefs.

“The bandits kill Muslims and Christians alike. Whether you are a Christian, Muslim or even worship a traditional religion, criminals do not discriminate. They simply target whoever they believe can fetch ransom,” Arabambi said.

According to him, attributing Nigeria’s security challenges to the religious composition of the Presidency was misplaced.

He further argued that retaining a northern Muslim as vice president was politically more sensible than selecting another Muslim from Southern Nigeria, stressing that Northern Nigeria remains predominantly Muslim.

“It’s not really about a Muslim-Muslim ticket. The vice president is coming from the North, where the majority are Muslims. Picking another Muslim from the South would have created a different political problem,” he explained.

Arabambi also referred to the Almajiri education initiative introduced during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, claiming there had long been resistance to formal education in parts of Northern Nigeria.

He suggested that such historical realities should be considered when discussing northern politics and the roots of insurgency.

On the performance of the Tinubu administration, the Labour Party chieftain insisted that Nigerians should judge the government by its achievements rather than religious sentiments.

“I don’t think anybody should introduce religious sentiment. The government has performed well on the economy. We now have a unified exchange rate in Nigeria,” he said.

He also cited reforms in the downstream petroleum sector, noting that fuel scarcity had reduced significantly.
“Whether we like it or not, Nigerians no longer queue endlessly to buy fuel,” he added.

Arabambi argued that the administration inherited severe fiscal challenges, particularly with debt servicing, but had made progress in stabilising public finances.

According to him, the Buhari administration left behind a debt servicing-to-revenue ratio of about 97 per cent, a situation he said the Tinubu government had worked hard to improve.

Responding to allegations of lopsided federal appointments, Arabambi dismissed the criticism, insisting that appointments should be based primarily on competence rather than ethnic or regional considerations.

“The power to appoint ministers rests with the President, and I believe he considers merit above every other factor,” he said.

He added that the composition of the Federal Executive Council reflects national inclusiveness and was designed to promote effective governance.
“It’s about giving Nigeria the best hands. If appointments are made merely to satisfy regional demands without considering competence, governance will suffer,” he stated.

Arabambi also pointed to the establishment of regional development commissions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as evidence of the administration’s commitment to equitable development.

He noted that every region now has a platform to pursue its development priorities, insisting that no part of the country had been excluded.

“Every geopolitical zone now has its own development commission. That shows the President has Nigeria’s collective interest at heart,” he said.

He further credited the administration with improving fiscal management, clearing outstanding international financial obligations and ensuring the sustainability of salary payments.

According to him, these achievements deserve greater public recognition.
Concluding, Arabambi urged Nigerians to shift attention from religious identity as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum.

He maintained that President Tinubu’s administration should ultimately be judged on governance, economic reforms and national development, insisting that competence—not religion—should remain the decisive factor in choosing Nigeria’s leaders.