The All Progressives Congress has dismissed former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal’s claim that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima laid the foundation for alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, said Lawal’s position was driven by bitterness over his failed bid to emerge as Tinubu’s running mate in the 2023 election.

Lawal, while featuring on Monday’s edition of Politics Today on Channels Television, had alleged that the Muslim-Muslim ticket and the administration’s perceived tilt towards Islamic economic frameworks created conditions that emboldened attacks on Christians in the country.

According to Lawal, the composition of the current administration sent a message that Christians were of no consequence in the country’s political leadership, thereby encouraging those intent on targeting Christians.

He said, “The government, by deliberate actions, seems to encourage them. I tell you, I refer to this Muslim-Muslim ticket, that is the fundamental basis for they have justification to continue.

“If the government so decides that we have no regard for Christians in Nigeria, that we can run our government as Muslims, whether they like it or not, they can go to hell.”

Lawal also expressed concern that the present administration had yet to acknowledge what he described as the “Christian genocide verdict” reportedly given by former United States President Donald Trump, despite evidence of targeted killings.

However, Arodiogbu described Lawal’s attempt to blame insecurity on the religious composition of the presidency as unfair and divisive.

He said, “For Babachir Lawal to start blaming the Muslim-Muslim ticket or Tinubu’s choice of vice president for the killings in Nigeria is quite unfortunate. But it is expected of a man of his kind.

“He has developed a mindset of ‘If I can’t get it, let the house scatter.’ It is the same trajectory of a grumbling loser.”

The APC chieftain noted that while many Christians initially expressed concern over the same-faith ticket, fears of marginalisation or an ‘Islamisation agenda’ had not materialised.

“As a Christian, I would have also preferred a Christian deputising the president. But we have seen that Tinubu is a true democrat, and the fear that Christians expressed about Islamisation did not happen.

“Also, the fear about Christians not being adequately appointed in positions was also unfounded,” he stated.

He added, “The president is a man whose wife is a pastor of a church despite being a Muslim. That shows his level of reasoning, balancing, and consideration. So Babachir’s presentation is quite unfortunate but expected.”

Arodiogbu said Lawal’s assertions were motivated by personal frustration over being sidelined by the Tinubu administration.

“It is all frustration over his failed ambition. Babachir Lawal became disgruntled after Tinubu dropped him. You know he was one of the major supporters when the President emerged as the APC candidate after the primaries.

“But he became disgruntled after his vice presidential ambition didn’t sail through. If you know his history, you will understand that there is no way he wouldn’t be making this comment he is making today. His views are always about himself. Are there killings in Nigeria? Yes. Christians are being killed just like Muslims.”

Lawal had also alleged that the administration muted the idea of introducing a Halal economy as evidence of a possible Islamisation agenda.

The Halal economy encompasses products and services that comply with Islamic law (Sharia) and principles, extending beyond food to sectors such as finance, fashion, cosmetics, and tourism.

He said, “Recently, there was an argument that they also want to bring a Halal economy (Islamic economy). When people came to me, I said, What do we expect to happen when they have a Muslim-Muslim government? They decided to do it.

“How do you expect them not to continue until they get to the end? What was the sense of a Muslim-Muslim ticket?”