Some All Progressives Congress members, under the aegis of APC National Stakeholders, in an apparent volte face,have withdrawn their opposing to Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying they endorse the choice of Ibrahim Shettima as running mate to Ahmed Tinubu.
The party stakeholders, however, premised their abrupt reversal of position on the notion that it was better to prioritise capacity, competence and character over religion and ethnicity, two sentiments they said had failed to yield governance results in the past.
Speaking at press conference in Abuja, convener of APC national stakeholders, Aliyu Audu, urged Nigerians to consider Tinubu’s choice of the former governor of Borno State as a confirmation that Tinubu will not shy away from making tough decisions when the need arises in the county’s collective interest.
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Justifying their sudden change of mind, the APC stakeholders said:
While we may have advocated the selection of a running mate with a faith different from that of the presidential candidate so as to give the sense of inclusion to followers of both major religions, we are aware that in order to build an effectively working society we must prioritise capacity, competence and character over religion and ethnicity especially as prioritising such sentiments in the past have not provided the desired goal of sense of inclusion, which can only truly be achieved when all Nigerians experience good governance at all levels regardless of their faith, ethnicity or social class.
According to him, Tinubu in making this hard decision has reaffirmed the group’s trust and confidence in his abilities as a leader to make decisions in overall interest of the country, either in the immediate or for the future.
He added:
The birth of a new Nigeria that works is upon us and we have every belief that Senator Kashim Shettima is one of the vehicles to that destination. His track records of bringing developments close to the people while he served as governor of Borno State, despite the challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency, places him above his peers.