Presidential election result crucial to other elections; Kaduna not scale to recommend Muslim/Muslim ticket; Nigerian Electorates have already decided their presidential candidate, don’t need endorsements from State governors or godfathers _ Shehu Sani

The Outcome of the Presidential Election will have a knock-on effect on the subsequent Elections during the 2023 Election Cycle.

Former Senator and activist, Sheu Sanni, disclosed this while speaking to TVC News Nifemi Oguntoye on the This Morning Programme on Friday Morning.

And while analysing the trends that will shape the 2023 General elections which is near said the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is not on the ballot is a major advantage that those in opposition may be working to take advantage of.

He disclosed that he expect a massive turnout of voters, especially for the Presidential Election since the four major candidates in the Elections, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Mr Peter Obi are people that a lot of Nigerians are passionate about.

He disclosed that the 2023 Election especially the Presidential Election will see the largest turnout in the history of Nigeria.

He also said the outcome will eventually determine what will happen in most States in terms of the Governorship elections and the State Houses of Assembly.

Sani added that the influence of religion or tribe in the Politics of Nigeria is due to the competence of leaders who do not see themselves as representing the interest of the People but as conquerors.

He added that the people who have led Kaduna State in the last forty years have never led with the fear of God or Justice making it difficult for the people to say that religion or ethnicity does not matter to them.

He accused the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, of not doing enough to bring the people of the State together.

A former Senator and rights activist, Shehu Sanni has said it is not about winning the election but how to rule the state and carry the people along after the election has been won.

According to him, elections can be won using any form of the equation but what is more important is how the state will fare after that.

He said “If you have won an election under a Muslim/Muslim ticket in Kaduna and then I as a Muslim from the Northern part of Kaduna, I cannot go to the Southern part of Kaduna and live with my family.

He stated that the state has been sharply divided and it is still being ruled, a typical example of what happened in South Africa.

Mr Sanni noted that the people in Kaduna state, the Muslims are not happy with what is happening in Plateau state as they have said Muslims in Plateau should be given an opportunity to produce either a speaker or a deputy governor.

Speaking on the forthcoming election in Kaduna, Mr Sanni said even if you think you have the capacity and the competence to deliver, you still have to understand the sensitivity of other people especially those who are not from your own part.

He added that Kaduna should not be used as a scale to recommend any Muslim-Muslim ticket to anybody.

He added that leaders who are elected to find themselves in positions of authority have to prove that they can serve anybody, the community, and society of your country.

Again, he took a swipe on endorsements and remote controlling the electorates contending that most Nigerian electorates had already decided on the presidential candidate to vote for in the February 25 presidential election.

He stated via a post on his verified Twitter handle, on Friday that such Nigerians were not waiting for direction or directives from their state governors or godfathers on who to vote for.

“Most of the electorates have made up their mind on whom to vote for as their president; they are not waiting for direction or directives from their state governors or godfathers. Those who think otherwise live in the past. Just engage a taxi or bus driver in a discussion.”

His comment may not be unconnected with the recent endorsement of Peter Obi by Obasanjo and Governor Nyesom Wike Thursday pronouncement in Ibadan, Oyo State that the people should vote for Governor Seyi Makinde during the March governorship election while Governor Makinde would inform them their preferred presidential candidate to be voted for in the February 25 poll.

“The people of Oyo have spoken that it is PDP. Vote for Seyi as governor, vote for House of Reps, vote for House of Assemblies. The other one (presidency), Seyi will talk to you.”