Kashim Shettima, vice-presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), says Nigerians should focus on issues and not the
same faith ticket presented by his party.
Shettima and Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the APC,
are both Muslims.
The ticket has drawn criticism from Nigerians, including
members of the ruling party.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday after a meeting with
President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock villa, Shettima said in 2011, there
wasn’t opposition to the Muslim-Muslim ticket presented by the Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN) at the time.
Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Fola Adeola, founder of GTBank, were the
presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the ACN in 2011 — they are
both Muslims.
Speaking on the APC’s ticket, Shettima added that making the
country great is the priority of his party.
“In 2011, the presidential candidate and the vice-presidential
candidates of the ACN, both of them were Muslims. Nobody raised an eyebrow,”
the former governor of Borno said.
“Now, the opposition has seen a winning combination and they
are petrified, deep down to the marrow of their bones.
“We will not trade in insults, lies and mischief. We have
established a track record of excellence. Let our opponents show what they have
done in their respective states. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s discuss issues.
“How to propel this nation to greatness is more important
than playing on the sentiments of Nigerians. Poverty knows no religion or
ethnicity. Insecurity knows no religion or ethnicity.”
Also speaking, Abdullahi Adamu, APC national chairman, said
there are Christians who have welcomed the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“Yes, we have been
hearing concerns being expressed,” Adamu said.
“In the APC, we believe very strongly that no matter what
description, no matter what faith you will associate with any one of our
candidates, we are first and foremost Nigerians.
“There is no doubt in the fact that we have people who stock
trade on some of these religious issues.
“Just like you have people expressing fears or concerns
about a Muslim-Muslim ticket, there are Christians that welcome it as a
positive development, in Nigerian politics. They are Nigerians.”
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