The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), said in Kaduna on Wednesday that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party had been using religion to deceive Nigerians about the change they desired even as the general elections draw closer.
Buhari said the PDP had been using religion to divide the people whereas religion “is a matter of personal conviction.”
The former Head of State, who spoke through the vice presidential candidate of the APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at an inter-faith engagement in Kaduna, said, “And they have succeeded in making some of us victims of the tales which they invent, propagate and sell as gospel truth to gullible listeners; while it is all nothing but tissues of lies.”
“I would like to solemnly declare that in spite of what detractors say, I am not a religious fanatic of any sort and I have never been.
“In all my life, I have never supported extremism of any kind, and nowhere in my record of service to our nation can this false toga, which political traducers have tried so hard to put on me, be substantiated
“Let me state this categorically that, I, Muhammadu Buhari, as an individual, and as a president, if given the opportunity to serve, have no personal religious agenda. And will not entertain, consider or promote the religious agenda of anyone.
“I will not condone any initiative that seeks to promote one religion over the other. Neither I, nor my party, or any member of my team has any desire or plan to Islamise or Christianise Nigeria or support anyone with such intention.”
He said he was recently informed that his administration as Head of State from December 31, 1983 to August 17, 1985, had a balanced cabinet with key positions such as Finance, Energy and Defence occupied by Christians, adding that 11 of the 19 governors he appointed were Christians
In addition, Buhari said the most memorable recollections of his subordinate service was under a Christian boss.
“The finest the country had then and among the most respected today. Indeed one of the best appraisals I received in the course of my military career was from General T.Y. Danjuma,” the APC candidate added.
Buhari explained that in the military where he served, it was practically impossible to be a bigot.
He said: “My background is in the army and there is no doubt that the military is one of the most integrated pan-Nigerian institutions in this country. And even today, the military is one of the few national institutions that represent the pride of our nation’s possibilities in unity. Soldiers from every nook and cranny of this country come together. Work and live together, entrust their lives to each other and integrated their families.
“It is a military where many of my dearest friends, from all faiths and parts of the country, lost their lives defending the unity of our nation. That was the military I served in, and in the Nigerian military that I know and can speak of, it was impossible to be a bigot.”
SOURCE: Punchng.com