Former Lagos State Governor and All Progressives Congress’ presidential candidate Bola Tinubu says he picked former Borno governor Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 presidential he approach governance devoid of ethnic or religious sentiments.
Mr Tinubu disclosed this in a statement published on his Facebook page shortly after he announced Mr Shettima as his running mate in Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s country home.
The former Lagos governor further said he chose Mr Shettima as his running regardless of public outcry against a Muslim-Muslim ticket because he puts “competence” over religion and ethnicity.
“Today, I announce my selection with pride because I have made it not based on religion or to please one community or the other,” Mr Tinubu said.
“I made this choice because I believe this is the man who can help me bring the best governance to all Nigerians, period, regardless of their religious affiliation or considerations of ethnicity or region. Here is where politics ends, and true leadership must begin.”
“Our focus, therefore, must be on getting the job done; and that means getting the very best and competent people to do it. In this crucial moment, where so much is at stake, we must prioritize leadership, competence, and the ability to work as a team over other considerations,” Mr Tinubu said
Mr Tinubu’s choice of Mr Shettima, a former governor of Boko Haram-ravaged North-East state, marked the first time since 1993 when a major party ticket would have Muslims as both presidential candidate and running mate.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had previously expressed worries that Mr Tinubu could plunge the country into crisis should he pick a Muslim as his vice-presidential candidate.
The Christian body said Nigeria’s diversity, roughly equal number of Christians and Muslims, should be respected and reflected on a ruling party ticket.
Full statement below:
ON ANNOUNCING SEN KASHIM SHETTIMA AS MY RUNNING MATE FOR THE 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
“As president, I hope to govern this nation toward uncommon progress. This will require innovation. It will require steps never before taken. It will also require decisions that are politically difficult and rare.”
“Our focus, therefore, must be on getting the job done; and that means getting the very best and competent people to do it. In this crucial moment, where so much is at stake, we must prioritize leadership, competence, and the ability to work as a team over other considerations.”
If I am to be that type of President, I must begin by being that type of candidate. Let me make the bold and innovative decision not to win political points but to move the nation and our party’s campaign closer to the greatness that we were meant to achieve”…
“Today, I announce my selection with pride because I have made it not based on religion or to please one community or the other. I made this choice because I believe this is the man who can help me bring the best governance to all Nigerians, period, regardless of their religious affiliation or considerations of ethnicity or region.”
“Here is where politics ends, and true leadership must begin. “
