The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has called on all political parties and their presidential candidates to gain the confidence of Nigerians by ensuring vice-presidential slots go-to persons of another faith other than the religion of the party’s flag bearers.
 
He made the call, yesterday, at the concluding assembly of the Archdiocesan Synod of Synodality held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos, themed ‘For A Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission’.
 
Martins said parties and presidential candidates should ensure that the slot for vice president in each party does not go to a person of his or her own faith, but to individuals of the other religion.
 
“In other words, the balance that is normally there in the affairs of our country right from the beginning should be kept. We should ensure that we do not upturn that balance. Our presidential candidates need to recognise the fact that sentiments of religion are part of the situation in our country now. Therefore, we should not be talking simply about competence, but at the same time, we must respect the sentiment of people as far as religious balance is concerned.

“If there is a Christian candidate, we must ensure that there is a Muslim vice president and vice versa. It is important to achieve balance at this time,” he said.