‘Tinubu is religiously tolerant’ – RCCG pastor defends APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket

An Assistant Pastor in charge of Province in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, and former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Pastor Remmy Hazzan, has defended the All Progressives Congress, APC, decision to retain its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the arrangement does not threaten Nigeria’s religious balance.

Hazzan who is also a member of the APC, spoke on Moday in an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, monitored by DAILY POST in Abeokuta. He dismissed concerns that the party’s ticket undermines the interests of Christians.

He argued that President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated religious tolerance, adding that his marriage to an ordained pastor of the RCCG reflects his disposition towards religious inclusiveness.

“I belong to the All Progressives Congress, I believe that we are not bigots, religious bigot, most especially. We do not in any way market anything that shows favor for one religion over a threat to the existence of another.

“The wife of the President is an ordained pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. And if such a man could live with his Christian wife, ordained pastor, for as long as they’ve been married, that shows his religious tolerance level. And such a thing, we still believe, will manifest in his leadership of Nigeria,” he asserted.

Addressing criticisms of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, Hazzan maintained that the decision was driven by political realities rather than religious considerations.

He also dismissed suggestions that the APC’s decision to retain a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket signaled that the party considered the Christian electorate politically insignificant.

“The reasons for the candidature of Mr. President and his vice-presidential candidate are also solving some political exigencies but the aspect of religious sentiment as to any other religion being threatened has not been manifested in any way whatsoever. And to that extent, we will not have any problem marketing that ticket come 2027,” Hazzan said.

He argued that the emergence of a Southern Muslim presidential candidate represented an unusual political situation that required a different strategy.

“Nobody has said the Christian voting bloc is insignificant. No. If you must take note, this is the first time that a Southern Muslim will emerge as the candidate of a major political party in Nigeria,” he said.

Explaining the rationale behind the APC’s ticket, Hazzan argued that the party’s decision was influenced by Nigeria’s political history and electoral realities rather than religious bias, saying the emergence of a Southern Muslim presidential candidate represented an unprecedented political situation that required a different strategic approach.

“This is the first time we are actually having a Southern Muslim. The period that we had Southern Christians, the Muslim majority in the North did not have any problem producing a running mate from the Islamic faith. So it has been more like an easy walk through.

” But this time, to pick a Northern Christian, we will need to do a lot of convincing for the Northern Muslims in that party and in the voting populace for us to be able to command a trust that we are actually bigoted religiously,” he said.

Hazzan stressed that religious affiliation should never outweigh competence in leadership, urging faith communities to present their best candidates for public office.

“The best of us should rule the rest of us, not the worst of us ruling the best of us. So to that extent, Christians, throw up your best. Muslims, throw up your best. Even the traditional religion, throw up your best. There can be good people in almost everywhere. And to that extent, when we have a congregation of the best of the best, then we are sure that only the best will be good enough for the citizenry.”

The cleric also rejected the notion that politics inevitably corrupts believers, saying Christians should not view politics as incompatible with their faith and insisting that it was possible to serve in public office without compromising or abandoning Christian principles.

‘Tinubu is religiously tolerant’ – RCCG pastor defends APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket