A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Sani Ahmad-Zangina, has stirred controversy after defending the reported ₦25 billion church project while dismissing concerns about religious bias in the current administration.
In a statement that has since drawn mixed reactions, the party stalwart argued that the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which produced both the president and vice president, already reflects the will and interests of Nigerian Muslims, leaving little room for complaints about marginalisation.
According to him, criticisms surrounding the construction of a high-value church project are misplaced and should not be interpreted as evidence of bias against Muslims.
“Allow them to enjoy the irrelevance with the church of ₦25 billion,” he said, adding that “the Muslim-Muslim ticket and the emergence of first and second Muslim citizens are enough to bar Nigerian Muslims from raising bias claims against this government.”
He further maintained that political power dynamics in Nigeria should not accommodate a Christian-Christian ticket in future elections, insisting that the current arrangement represents a long-sought outcome for many Muslim stakeholders.
“We will not tolerate or accept a Christian-Christian ticket to succeed in Nigerian politics,” he said. “We should learn to tolerate because we needed the Muslim-Muslim ticket, and we have gotten what we wanted.”
The APC figure also dismissed calls by some Muslim advocacy groups, including the Muslim Rights Concern, 0URIC, urging them to take note of what he described as the broader political reality.
“A church worth ₦25 billion should not in any way be seen as a sign of bias,” he added. “The real issue of bias is already settled in the Muslim-Muslim ticket.”
The remarks have sparked debate across political and religious lines, with critics warning that such statements could deepen existing divisions, while supporters argue they reflect a pragmatic view of Nigeria’s complex political landscape.
