The Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had announced a former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his running mate and has explained the reason for his decision to pick a Muslim as his running mate in the forthcoming general elections.
Tinubu’s action followed the withdrawal of his dummy running mate, Ibrahim Kabir Masari, from the race, yesterday.
His choice of Shettima who is a Muslim as running mate has, however, sparked widespread criticism, especially from the Christian community in the country.
The APC standard-bearer, in his reaction, believes the challenges facing Nigeria require placing competence in governance above religious sentiments.
“Religion, ethnicity, and region cannot always and fully determine our path,” he was quoted as saying in a statement on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, a spokesman for the Tinubu Campaign Organisation.
“To forge ahead as a nation towards development and prosperity, we must break free of old binds. We must recalibrate our political calculations to where competence and fairness matter, more than reducible demographics.”
According to the statement, Tinubu expressed his absolute respect and regard for both the Christian and Muslim faiths in the country.
He stated that by his selection, he was not oblivious of the religious and ethnic sensitivities of the nation but made the choice in the overriding interest of the country.
Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim choice drew sharp reactions from the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Middle-Belt Forum, MBF, and former Secretary-General of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani.
However, Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, hailed Tinubu for picking his predecessor, which he described as the wisest choice.
