Lagos governorship: APC denies bias against Christians

The All Progressives Congress has debunked speculations that the party has a plan to field a Muslim as its candidate for the 2015 Lagos State governorship election.

The speculation has led to ongoing campaigns for the next governor of the state to be a Christian, considering that the governors of the state since the return of democracy in 1999 have been Muslims.

The spokesman of APC in Lagos, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the party had not decided who to field as governorship candidate and would not favour or discriminate against any religion in making that decision.

He said, “For now, I don’t think we know who is going to be the next governor of Lagos State. You should know that Lagos does not celebrate mediocrity in the name of fielding a Muslim or a Christian. Only the best is good enough for Lagos State.

“If we have a good candidate from the Muslim community, we will pick him. If we have a good candidate from the Christian community, we will pick him. There is no bias at all. The focus is to get the best from the lot. The person can come from anywhere; he can be neither Muslim nor Christian.”

Igbokwe listed the qualities APC was looking out for in the next governor of Lagos, saying the party would field a candidate that was cerebral and had the  capacity to deliver and be above board.

“We cannot allow just anybody to manage Lagos State. As far as we are concerned, only the best should run Lagos, because it is even more difficult to manage Lagos than to manage Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the party would not allow a mediocre person to succeed Governor Babatunde Fashola.

When asked if APC would be swayed by the campaign for a Christian governor, Igbokwe, insisted that the leadership of the party would consider all options and choose only the best.

He challenged those campaigning for a Christian governor to present their best candidate for consideration.

“If you have the best candidate, present him to the world and let us see; present him to Lagosians, and let us see. We are not going to put anybody who will take Lagos backwards,” he said.

The campaigns for a Christian Lagos governor has gathered momentum  in the past few weeks with more Christian leaders calling for support for the goal to be achieved.

Punch