The governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong, says he is aspiring to be the running mate of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, because he is qualified, not because of religion.
Governor Simon Lalong as Tinubu’s Running Mate/APC Vice Presidential Candidate/2023 Presidential Candidate
Governor Simon Lalong said he is not aspiring to be the running mate of Tinubu because of religion. Photo credit: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
“I am not aspiring to be vice president because of my faith; I am aspiring because I am qualified,” he was quoted to have said.
Legit.ng notes that Lalong who is the chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) is one of those being considered to be picked as Tinubu’s running mate.
I believe in politics of inclusion, says Lalong
Meanwhile, ahead of Friday, June 17, the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for submission of candidates for the presidential positions by political parties, Lalong, a Christian northerner, said that he believes in politics of inclusion.
He added that jettisoning a known tradition would not augur well for the polity and that it amounted to exclusion.
The Plateau governor’s statement came amid the purported moves by the ruling party to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
On how he managed politics of inclusion in his state, Lalong said:
“I realised that some of the crises that were happening in Plateau were because of exclusion. People believed that they were excluded.
“In politics, you talk about the majority having their way while the minority should be given the opportunity to have a say. Once you have that, you have complete peace in your place,” he said while responding to a question on the Muslim-Muslim ticket.