It is my right to choose whoever I want as running mate: Tinubu

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flag bearer, Bola Tinubu, says he was exercising his fundamental right when he chose former Borno state governor and fellow Muslim, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate for the 2023 elections.

“There is no traditional way of selection of a running mate. It is my prerogative. There is so much thinking that goes into it,” Mr Tinubu said. “Can you work with this individual? I see the capacity, I see the temperament. I see the vision for the mission at hand and I find him very suitable for that. So I picked him, his name has been submitted.”

Speaking with state house of assembly speakers elected under the APC on Saturday in Abuja, Mr Tinubu explained why he picked Mr Shettima as his running mate.

“The agreement is that North-East should  produce. So I recommended and picked Kashim Shettima that is known to be very qualified, has a temperament and commitment, loyal to the party. Patriotism dictates that and he is very patriotic. Kashim Shettima has been nominated, his name is with INEC,” Mr Tinubu said.

The presidential flag bearer’s choice of Mr Shettima as his running mate marked the first time since 1993 when a major political party ticket would have Muslims as both presidential candidate and running mate.

His running mate choice has sparked widespread criticism among party men and electorates since the announcement was made last week Sunday.

Members of the APC Christian caucus in a communique rejected the Tinubu-Shettima candidature, predicting calamity for the ruling party after the manner of 1993 presidential election when the Abiola-Kingibe’s victory was cut short by a military junta.

“That the current Nigerian environment and political atmosphere is different from what occurred in 1993 and therefore a Muslim-Muslim ticket is unacceptable.

“It doesn’t take the smart to know that Abiola/Kingibe victory turned out to be a pyrrhic victory as there was never a President Abiola nor vice President Kingibe. Is that what we want a repeat of in 2023?” partly read the communique.

On Friday, Peoples Gazette exclusively reported that the State Security Service in a secret memo to President Muhammadu Buhari warned that Mr Tinubu’s choice of running mate would trigger a sectarian crisis that could destabilise Nigeria.