By Raymond Mordi, Jide Orintunsin, Frank Ikpefan
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo and House of Representatives Chief Whip in the Third Republic Olawale Oshun, were among those who hailed the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate to All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
In a statement, Prof Zulum said the APC flagbearer made the best choice.
“The choice of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate is wisest choice at this point in time”, he said.
Described the senator, who is his predecessor as his mentor, Zulum added: “Shettima’s choice is very personal to me.”
He lauded Tinubu for choosing “a leader who has a very deep understanding of our country and its complexities,” as his vice presidential candidate.
Zulum’s statement reads: “Shettima, who represents Borno Central Senatorial District, has a very deep knowledge not only of the Nigerian economy (challenges and prospects) but also of the world.”
The Borno helmsman praised President Muhammadu Buhari, APC governors, the National Working Committee (NWC) and the party elders for “supporting Shettima’s choice.”
The statement further reads: “Earlier today (yesterday), I received with the greatest joy, the announcement of my mentor, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, as the vice presidential candidate of our party, the APC and Insha’Allah, the next vice-president of the Federal Republic under His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our incoming President, Bi’iznillah.
“It has been my greatest wish that H.E Kashim Shettima gets this elevation that he so much deserves as one of Nigeria’s highly patriotic leaders.
“For me, and I am sure for many leaders and members of the APC, Tinubu’s choice of H.E Kashim Shettima is the wisest choice at this point in time.
Read Also: Tinubu-Shettima ticket excellent team – Okechukwu
“Shettima’s choice is very personal to me and together with our leaders and all stakeholders and members of the APC, we shall campaign vigorously, work day and night, to collectively secure overwhelming victory for the APC in 2023, Insha’Allah.
“Without the slightest doubt, H.E Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has chosen a leader who has very deep understanding of our country and its complexities. There is hardly any tribe in any of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT that Senator Kashim Shettima cannot knowledgeably speak about.
“He knows the social, cultural, religious, economic and political structure of virtually all the 36 States and the FCT (Federal Capital Territory).
“Shettima is extremely patriotic. He believes so much in the unity of this country and he has proved it on a number of occasions.
“Shettima’s administration (in which I am honoured to have served as rector and as commissioner) truly reflected the Nigerian configuration.
“Above everything else, Tinubu has chosen for Nigeria, an incoming Vice-President, Insha’Allah, with very deep knowledge not only of the Nigerian economy (challenges and prospects) but also of the world.”
Keyamo, who took to his Twitter handle, described Shettima as the perfect choice.
In the tweet, the minister referred to the former governor as a quintessential banker and economist.
The tweet reads: “Quintessential banker & economist, suave gentleman & politician, intellectually fertile, economically sound, inter-generationally mobile (he’s young, yet experienced), fiercely loyal, phenomenally complementary to @officialABAT. Sen. Kashim Shettima is the perfect choice as VP.”
Oshun, who doubles as National Chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), described Shettima as a highly qualified and highly experienced politician that can add a lot of value to the APC ticket.
He said: “Talking about being qualified, in terms of education, he attended some of the best universities and he ran Borno State for skillfully two terms and achieved a number of feats in the educational sector. Specifically, in the field of primary and secondary education, he did a lot of work and of course, he was succeeded by one of his commissioners, Governor Babagana Zulum who is succeeding by building on the foundation laid by Senator Shettima.
“He has excelled so greatly, and when you put all these things together, you will see a gentleman that is capable and worthy of being a vice president. Aside from these, he is also a very composed man. With the little contact I’ve had with him, I see him as a man who chooses his word carefully. So, I think he is a very, very good choice.”
Oshun noted that rallying the support of voters in the North would involve the institutions built over time by the candidates.
He said: “When we speak of individuals, we tend to forget the institutions behind them. So, it is not just Senator Shettima as an individual now; this is an accomplished person who has served two terms as Borno State governor, was a member of the Northern Governors’ Forum, who has been a member of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and who has played a role in all these bodies.
“So, what you are likely to see happen is the institution he has built over time working in his favour. It is not just about him alone. But, what comes out great for him is his accomplishments and his personality; the fact that he is capable and quite educated for the responsibilities ahead of him as vice president.”
Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Osita Okechukwu described Shettima’s choice by Tinubu as an excellent decision.
Okechukwu said: “On the choice of distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima as vice presidential candidate; it’s an excellent joint ticket.
“It is an excellent joint ticket because Distinguished Senator Shettima is transparent. He is a man of action and capable as Asiwaju pointed out. He did well as the governor of Borno State and did a good pick as a successor in the person of Prof Zulum.”
Three groups – Edo Grassroots Ambassadors, Disciples of Jagaban (DoJ) and Forum of Buhari Support Group (FOBS-G) also hailed Shetimma’s choice.
FOBS-G Chairman Dr Abiso Kabir described Shettima as an economist and a politician equipped with qualities to complement Tinubu