Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu has commented on the Vice President’s visit to churches, saying it does not compromise his faith as a Muslim, or makes him less of the faith.
According to the sheikh, the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party is a politician, and his visit to churches is only a political tactic to get across the faith-based organisations.
The 2nd Vice President of the West African Election Observers Network (WAEON) says Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia cannot win the elections even if all the Muslim community in the country vote for him, the reason he is playing his political cards well to get across the Christian faith as well.
The Vice President, after his election by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) as its presidential candidate, has been visiting churches and meeting the clergy as part of his nationwide tour, taking ideas from them and sharing how his administration will be partnering the church for development.
Pastors have been laying their hands on him to pray for him, an act many have criticised as unworthy of a true Muslim.
But commenting on the issue, Sheikh Armiyawo noted that it is only when a Muslim changes his faith and behaves like a Christian that gives cause for alarm, however, if the person visits to share some moments and prayers with them, it only shows the love and cordiality between the two faiths, stressing that the Vice President’s own is to gain political capital ahead of the elections.
“That is within the interfaith and empathetic engagement and also he’s a politician. I’m not a politician and I want all those who are listening to me, I’m not doing politics, I mean, he’s a Muslim, but he’s doing political tactics to cut across. To be on one side. Every corner,” the sheikh said on Accra-based GH One TV.
“Dr. Bawumia knows that even if all Muslims in this country vote for him he will not win elections. True or false? True! If all Muslims should vote for Bawumia, because of the statistics we have,… so, politically, it doesn’t make sense to be on one side so he is doing politics and must view him from the angle of his political strategy to be able to get the votes from every corner,” he added.
He added that “and like all the politicians do, they do come to Muslims. And some of them will come to the chief [Imam] and request prayer from him. So he lays hands on politicians. He lays his hand on politicians and he’s in the pictures. Muslim and Christian politicians have come, they squat and give their heads to the chief to hold and pray. It’s because of how they see him. But it doesn’t make them less Christians.”
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