By Jude Opara, Abuja

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday named the former governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

Tinubu who had been engrossed in a wide range of consultations over the choice of his running mate made the announcement in Daura on Sunday when he presented his choice to President Muhammadu Buhari who is observing the Sallah holidays in his home town.

The issue of Tinubu’s running mate has became thorny with both the Christian bloc and in the country urging the former governor of Lagos state to show religious sensitivity by balancing the ruling party’s ticket with a Christian running mate, whole Muslims have largely seen no wrong in Tinubu brushing aside Christians and go for a running mate of the same faith.

Before the choice of Shettima was finally unvieled on Sunday, Earlier on, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State had stated clearly that Tinubu and the APC  was going for a Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying “The person is also by accident of birth a Muslim. The considerations for the choice of a running mate were dictated by the need to choose an individual capable of working with the presidential candidate to take Nigeria to greater heights’’.

Early yesterday, before Shettima’s unveiling, News Agency of Nigeria, a federal media outfit had quoted a highly-competent anonymous source in the Tinubu Campaign Organisation as stating

that Tinubu would make the name of the candidate public this week.

“The vice-presidential nominee may most likely be a former governor and senator from the North-east part of Nigeria. The person is also by accident of birth a Muslim, (confirming what Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State said on Saturday that Tinubu had settled for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.) 

The NAN source added that in Tinubu in making the choice didn’t consider religion, but  competence, exposure and intellectual depth of the candidate.

“The considerations given for the choice of a running mate were dictated by the need to choose an individual capable of working with the presidential candidate to take Nigeria to greater heights,’’ the source was quoted as having said.

Given that religion is a touchy issue in theccountry, the Muslim-Muslim ticket hit a raw nerve even before its unveiling. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had warned before now that  the leading political parties and their candidates should stave off the idea of fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election.

According to the influential association, should any of the parties ignore the warning, there may be dire, unimaginable consequences, given that such a move constituted a threat to the fragile peace and unity of the country.

 In a statement released on Friday, June 10, 2022, by its National Secretary, Barrister Joseph Bade Daramola, CAN noted that with the current challenges facing the country, political parties must desist from actions that could further polarize the people.

  “CAN urges that a balance of both religious practitioners be considered in the choice of running mates of the presidential candidates. We do not subscribe to Christian/Christian ticket or Muslim/Muslim ticket. Politicians can talk politics but we have stated our view long before now.

“Any party that tries same religion ticket will fail. This is not 1993. Even when we have joint Muslim/Christian ticket, the Church still goes through Hell. Only God knows the number of Christians that have been killed in the last seven years with no one apprehended or prosecuted,” 

its National Secretary said 

CAN equally argued that there was no political party that has no great, good and patriotic Christians who can preside over the affairs of the country including serving as the Vice President , describing the argument of competence and performance as the smokescreen to brush aside Christian in the decision- making loop in the country.

Meanwhile, in announcing his running mate on Sunday, Tinubu who is obviously aware of the likely backlash of his decision said he settled for Shettima after a wide range of deliberations from a wide range of opinion and interest groups in the country.

He said the choice was based o the ability of the running mate to effectively assist in the governance of the country.

Tinubu said, “Having now listened to the sage, careful advice of a broad section of the party and of the nation, there are a few points I feel I must make about the exceptional and extraordinary person with whom I will share the APC ticket and the principles of open and good governance that informed this choice.

“All my life, my decisions regarding the team around and supporting me have always been guided by the principles of competence, innovation, compassion, integrity, fairness, and adherence to excellence.

“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.

“I am mindful of the energetic discourse concerning the possible religion of my running mate. Just and noble people have talked to me about this. Some have counselled that I should select a Christian to please the Christian community. Others have said I should pick a Muslim to appeal to the Muslim community. Clearly, I cannot do both.

“Both sides of the debate have impressive reason and passionate arguments supporting their position. Both arguments are right in their own way. But neither is right in the way that Nigeria needs at the moment. 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”.

It could be recall, that while the negotiations were ongoing, Tinubu had forwarded the name of Kiiru Masari to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a placeholder. Masari announced his resignation on Saturday in accordance with the national electoral body stipulation

 Masari stated that his decision to quit his position followed a crucial discussion he had with the APC presidential flag-bearer, Bola Tinubu.

His statement read in part: ”This is to inform our esteemed party leaders under our able President Muhammadu Buhari, teeming party members and the great people of Nigeria, of the outcome of a crucial discussion I just had with the flag-bearer of our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

”Recall that I had the singular honour and privilege of being nominated as the running mate to Asiwaju Tinubu last month after a keenly contested presidential primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections.

”But, after much reflection and wider consultations, I now wish to step down. I realized that my decision will enable Asiwaju have more latitude to give more accommodation and inclusion that will position our party to win the coming elections, with the support of the people of Nigeria.

”In stepping down, I believe I can still serve our party and the country in several other capacities.”

Masari further revealed that he had since submitted his letter of withdrawal as the vice presidential candidate to Bola TInubu in the forthcoming election.

”I  wish to confirm that I have submitted my withdrawal letter and affidavit to that effect as the Vice Presidential Candidate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TInubu in the coming elections.

”On behalf of myself and family, I wish to sincerely thank Asiwaju Tinubu — the incoming President, Insha Allah — for his trust in me and we promise to remain steadfast in our support for him and the party.”