Those against Shettima’s choice will thank Tinubu later’

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka has advised Nigerians to ignore the religious sentiment of opposition political parties over the choice of Senator Kashim Shetimma as the party’s presidential running mate.

He commended the choice of Shettima and said those opposed to the former Borno Governor will thank Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his choice.

In a statement on Monday in Abuja, the APC chieftain assured Nigerians that fears being expressed in some quarters only exist in the realm of imagination of opposition.

Describing Shettima as the best choice to win the 2023 presidential election, Ajaka said the opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been thrown off balance since the announcement of Shettima.

According to him: “Senator Shettima is a man of knowledge, accomplishment, courage and integrity, who is not given to bigotry, or having corruption badges with any anti-corruption agencies.

“The sterling qualities of our vice-presidential candidate, in the person of Senator Kashim Shettima have once again thrown the opposition parties off balance. They (PDP and others) would have preferred our presidential candidate to settle for the less to make it easy for them to win the election (God forbid) but the choice of the trusted and trustworthy Shettima must have disorganised their evil plans, we understand them in the APC.

“While we sympathise with the opposition parties, we appeal to Nigerians, who will eventually be the beneficiaries of good governance under the Tinubu-Shettima presidency to see beyond the sentiments of religion and tribe. Both Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima are not religious fundamentalists or ultra Muslims, their records in public offices are testimonies to rely on.

“As a two-term governor in Borno state, Shettima enjoyed the support of the Christian community throughout his tenure. The Borno chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) testified that ‘In the history of Borno state, there is no Governor that has been fair to the Christian Community as much as Governor Kashim Shettima.’

“For example, it was Governor Shettima, in the history of Borno, that has sponsored the highest number of Christian Pilgrims every year since 2011 till he left office. This and many other records of mutual respect for all faiths are there to verify in Borno State.”

The APC chieftain said the party and its presidential candidate will not be distracted from the goal of winning the 2023 general elections at all levels.

“If Borno state has the largest votes in the North-east where Kashim Shettima has been Governor for 8 years and now a Senator and still politically relevant if APC has enjoyed massive support from this state and the entire North-east and the emergence of Shettima as our vice-presidential candidate will deny the candidate of the PDP the smooth ride in the zone, I think APC and our presidential candidate are politically correct because our main goal, for now, is to emerge victorious in the coming elections, not forgetting competence which Senator Kashim Shettima represents,” APC spokesman said.