Muslim-Muslim ticket: Tinubu submits INEC form snubbing critics

Image: Punch

The APC presidential flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ignored all the criticism from different quarters of the nation by maintaining his decision on former Governor of Borna State, Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

Our source gathered that Tinubu had submitted forms to INEC hours before the commission’s deadline, naming Shettima as his running mate.

Recall that Tinubu has come under fire for picking Shettima, a Muslim as his running mate, naming him the ‘special one.’ The Christian Association of Nigerians, some party members, political stakeholders, and so on have all criticised his decision. The Christian community have accused him of supporting marginalisation and age-long suspicion of an alleged plan to Islamise the country.

Following the outrage that greeted his decision, Tinubu’s campaign team and supporters have deployed every means possible to make Nigerians accept Tinubu’s choice trying to downplay the whole thing.

However, amid the different voices against Shettima’s candidacy, many would have thought Tinubu would change his mind by dropping Shettima as a running mate before the INEC deadline. Still, it was not meant to be, as Tinubu dashed all hopes on Friday by submitting Shettima’s name to INEC.

The Bola Tinubu Campaign Organisation spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, told Saturday PUNCH that it would have been unwise for his principal to drop Shettima because certain people were uncomfortable with the choice.

“That is not possible. We have seen this move before; all these campaigns to pit us against fellow Nigerians. It happened in 1993 and the result was clear. There was pressure from several quarters for (MKO) Abiola to drop (Babagana) Kingibe because of his Muslim background,” Onanuga said.

Onanuga urged Nigerians to focus on competence rather than sentiments.

“What we should be looking at is not religion but competence of the candidate to deliver and take the country to a greater height. They will soon realise that. As I said earlier, there is no likelihood of our presidential candidate dropping Shettima. He has selected him and Shettima will remain. He is a cool candidate. Either of them can be a President,” Onanuga insisted.

He further said the party is currently doing all to appease CAN and disgruntled APC members, including a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. They are all against the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

He said, “I can assure you that Tinubu will appeal to Babachir and others. What we are seeing is natural. This is politics where you may not get all you want. But we know people will soon realise that the choice they have is not really a bad one.

“Don’t forget that we are still six months away from the 2023 elections. In politics, even 24 hours is a long time. Anything can happen that can change the course of things. There are moves by the party to appease all of them to rally round the presidential candidate for the election.”

Meanwhile, a former Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Taiwo Akerele, supported Tinubu’s attitude of snubbing critics of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Akerele said, “When we talk of Muslim-Muslim ticket and Christians are saying the VP choice should be a Christian, I begin to ask, what happens to the majority of 120 million Nigerians that are neither Muslims nor Christians, many who didn’t go to church or mosque?

“Between 1999 and 2007, the PDP gave us a Muslim vice presidential candidate from the North. In 2007 to 2011, it was the turn of Jonathan, a Christian. And today we have a vice president, who is a pastor and a professor.

“Christians and Muslim have had their turn. If Tinubu is going to come under pressure to drop Shettima, God forbid, it should not be the turn of Christians or Muslims, it is the turn of pagans.”

According to Akerele, Nigerians should focus on the ailing economy, rising inflation, unemployment and insecurity when choosing a leader and not on religious inclination.

Similarly, the Director-General of Asiwaju Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Adebayo Shittu, also confirmed that Tinubu has plans to meet religious bodies and other stakeholders.

He said, “I can assure you that we will do the needful. We know what to do. Is the ultimate aim not for close ranks and work towards winning the presidential election? We will do it.

“Let me also point out that it is not all Christians, even among the clergy, that are aggrieved with our decision. We should not generalise. But we know many of the disgruntled party members are supporters and loyalists of the vice president (Yemi Osinbajo). That is why we said the APC is a party of ‘free joiners’ and ‘free leavers.’ Anybody can leave and come in anytime.”

Source

#Muslim/Muslim ticket

#Tinubu

#INEC Deadline