Former Borno State Governor Senator Kashim Shettima topped a list of 11 individuals recommended by the Planning and Strategy Committee of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the selection of the running mate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu Campaign Organization (TCO) led by Mr Babachir David Lawal, Daily Trust reports. The recommendation was contained in a report by a subcommittee chaired by Senator Grace Folasade Bent, observed by one of our reporters. Lawal committee members told this newspaper that the committee’s final report was finalized on Tuesday and presented to Tinubu by Lawal, who traveled to London on Wednesday. After receiving the report, the APC candidate traveled back to Nigeria where he announced Shettima’s name as his running mate of choice on Sunday. Shettima was first on the list of the seven nominees from the geopolitical zone in the Northeast. up to four others recommended from the northwest. Babachir, who served as Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF) between 2015 and 2017, had criticized Shettima’s selection as Tinubu’s running mate for the February 25, 2023 presidential election. In a statement Tuesday evening, Babachir said Christians across the country will rise up against the APC for choosing Shettima, a Muslim, to replace Tinubu. ALSO READ: But in contrast to his opposition to the Muslim-Muslim ticket and his disapproval of Shettima as unfit for the vice presidential role, the report showed the commission says a Muslim-Muslim ticket will give Tinubu a “guaranteed victory” and has put many Muslims on the list. for consideration. However, the report weighed the pros and cons of Muslim-Christian and Muslim-Muslim tickets for the APC candidate and highlighted the implications of possible apathy and protest from the Christian community in the event of the adoption of a Muslim running mate. The Daily Trust has determined that Senator Magnus Abe was among the members of the Planning and Strategy Committee set up three months ago; pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu; Senator Abu Ibrahim; Senator Bent; Senator Ishaku Elisa Abbo; Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Rep Abiodun Faleke, Rep Musa Sarkin-Adar, among others. One of the committee members said that following Tinubu’s emergence as the APC’s flag-bearer, a subcommittee was formed to provide guidance on the selection of a running mate and campaign team director general. He said Senator Bent was appointed chairman of the subcommittee overseen by the main committee chaired by the former SGF. Another panel member said the decision to choose Shettima was in line with the committee’s recommendation that Tinubu work with the guidance provided. “When we came to our recommendation, we looked at all beliefs, including religion, gender and acceptability. We looked at those who can add value to the ticket,” he said. He said the commission’s report had gone through Lawal before reaching the former governor of Lagos state. “He was part of the decision and the report got to the presidential candidate through him,” he said. “First we sent the paper version of our report to Asiwaju before BD Lawal brought the paper version to him in London last Wednesday,” he said. Senator Abu Ibrahim, an ally of Tinubu and a member of the commission, confirmed the commission’s recommendation. “Senator Shettima was elected after wide consultation. Our committee has submitted its report to Asiwaju and his name is there,” he said, but declined to comment further. However, Ibrahim assured: “There is no cause for concern about a Muslim-Muslim ticket. I can assure you that Asiwaju is fair and just will be for everyone.” El-Rufai, Wamakko, Dogara, others recommended The committee is known to have recommended seven individuals from the Northeast and four individuals from the Northwest geopolitical zones. The panel did not recommend anyone from the North Central geopolitical zone Panelists said the North Central was not considered because the party’s national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, hails from Nasarawa state in the geopolitical zone.After Shettima’s name, listed from the northeast, is Kashim Imam, a Associate of Tinubu Other recommended persons from the zone were Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum a former Speaker of the House of Afghanistan rdden, Yakubu Dogara; United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, Ambassador Fatima Balla and Senator Anthony Manzo. In the northwest, the commission recommended Hajiya Najatu Mohammed, Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, a former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu. Ex-SGF confirms panel chair, distances itself from running mate recommendations In a telephone interview Wednesday evening, Lawal confirmed the chairmanship of the planning and strategy committee, but that he was not aware of a subcommittee. “I chaired the Bola Tinubu Planning and Strategy Committee, which was established to implement strategies so that Tinubu can choose the ticket. But I’m not aware of the subcommittee that recommended running mates. It’s not our job. You know politicians can make up anything,” he said. APC chairman in Daura defends Muslim-Muslim ticket National chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Wednesday defended the party’s presidential candidate’s decision to settle for Shettima as his running mate. Adamu answered questions from State House reporters after prompting members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to pay a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at his mansion in Daura, Katsina state. Adamu said the party had to agree on the strategic decision due to the realities of politics in Nigeria, stressing that no one was out to promote Christian-Christian or Muslim-Muslim tickets. When asked about his message to Nigerian Christians who were annoyed by the Muslim-Muslim ticket to the festival, he said: “The fact is that God does nothing in vain. God has His reasons for having two major religious beliefs to be in this country. And each of these groups has good people that I have reason to believe have a share as well. We’ve had times when Christians ran this country. We’ve had times when Muslims ran this country. We cannot deny that fact. We can’t have what we want at some point when we all agree on one thing. “The fact is that we appreciate that the Christians are interested, no doubt about it, but the fact is that we are as practical as possible in this situation. And we hope people see reason. No one is willing to promote Christianity or Muslim ticket per se. But we have to face the reality of our politics in the country. That’s what we’re doing,” he said. When asked if he had nothing to fear about the development, Adamu said: “Absolutely, nothing to fear. Shettima is another Nigerian like me and you. Yes, we don’t all have to Muslims or Christians. It is God’s will that he become vice president of this great country this time if we win the elections. And we hope and pray and we work to win the elections.” Speaking about APC’s chances in the Osun elections, he expressed confidence in the party’s ability to achieve success, saying, “By the grace of God we will win. You heard it. Take it home, sleep on it today and come back on Saturday and say Abdullahi Adamu, you are your father’s son.” Speaking about the motive behind the visit to the president, the national chairman of the APC said: “First of all, it is to express my courtesy in keeping with the tradition in which we were born. And as chairman of the ruling party, the party of the President, where he is the leader of the party, it behooves us to come at a time like this, identify with our leadership and set an example for those who are behind us, who are coming after us. So that was it and we are happy and every time we knock on his door he opens his door for us And that’s exactly what happened again today “We were in Osun yesterday (Tuesday) and we had to give him a little report about what happened in Osun. And we are also looking forward to the elections next Saturday and we have his share of our thoughts about the elections. That is why we are here.”
