The All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari has come under renewed scrutiny as a statement he made ahead of the 2003 elections is being described by analysts as having created religious division in the country that persists till present day.
According to a THISDAY report written by Isah Ibrahim Maru, the former military ruler is said to have called on Muslim faithful to vote for candidates that would uphold and defend the Islamic religion.
Campaigning then, at the 16th National Qur’anic Recitation competition held in Gusau, Zamfara, the multi-presidential aspirant reportedly said, “I wish Muslims of Nigeria will cooperate, unite and sustain themselves under one umbrella. Because of what we are facing election, this year and next year, this is the best time to repeat what I said in Sokoto.
“Since the colonialists over threw our Islamic way of life in 1903 and 1904, our lifestyle was changed, and we forget our religion and our good culture,” he maintained.
The former dictator said Muslims have every reason to thank Allah for restoring the Islamic Sharia under the present (Obasanjo) dispensation.