The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has again reiterated the reasons why he picked Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election.
In a statement released by his campaign team on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, Tinubu stated that his choice of Shettima is not based on religion or ethnicity.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media & Communication of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation, the presidential candidate stated that he chose the former governor of Borno State due to his track record of development in the state.
Many Nigerians, especially Christians, have criticised the emergence of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate as both candidates are Muslims.
The presidential candidate admitted that his choice of a vice presidential candidate has generated a heated debate across the country, adding that he followed the controversy.
Tinubu, however, argued that if “he intended to cash in on ethnicity, he would have picked a running mate from the North Western part of Nigeria, which has the highest number of registered voters”.
He also said, “If he wanted to appeal to the base instincts of religion, he would have also gone for a candidate in the Christian-dominated parts of Nigeria.”
“But there was no such consideration. Instead, he picked a tested politician and technocrat from the minority Kanuri ethnic group from the North East.
“The factors at play were issues germane to confronting the multi-dimensional crisis our nation faces today: insecurity, economic problems, such as the unemployment crisis facing our youth.
“Our candidate canvassed on his track record in Lagos to win the APC primary last June. As governor between 1999 and 2007, he was able to transform a decaying state into the fourth-largest economy in Africa. He believes that his feat in Lagos can be replicated all over Nigeria.
“To assist him in realising this vision, he picked Kashim Shettima, who also established a track record of development in Borno State while he was governor for eight years, despite the Boko Haram crisis. Surely, only the deep knows how to call onto the deep.
“Nigerians have a lot to gain in having the two tested leaders at the helm of affairs.
“Naturally, some Nigerians with closet motives have failed to see the opportunities and possibilities the twin candidates present to our country at this time of difficult security, economic, and political developments, preferring to fan the embers of religion and ethnic divisions among their unsuspecting and vulnerable compatriots.
“The TCO hereby appeals to fellow Nigerians to embrace the best elements of our common purpose and reject the campaign and incitement against fellow citizens,” the statement reads in part.
He said it’s a great disservice to the country and to citizens to push ethnic and religious narratives to strain the already difficult ethnic and religious cleavages.
He added that whether as Christians, Muslims or traditional worshipers, what should be important to Nigerians should be the commonwealth of the country.
