There has been a lot of outcry about the choice of Asiwaju/Shettima joint a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
While some have completely rejected the Muslim Ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress, which produced Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the Presidential candidate and Senator Kashim Shettima as the running mate, describing the action as an agenda to economically and politically marginalize Northern Christians, others argue that religious sentiment shakes the polity and should not be the focus ahead of the 2023 general election, as what Nigeria needs now is dedicated and strategic leaders who would pull the country into the global economic space for total rebranding and revamping of sectorial economy to the benefit of all Nigerians inclusive.
Speaking about the perception of the populace as regards to the same faith ticket of the APC, Director of Media and Publicity, Tinubu/Shettima, ICC, Hilliard Etta said on Thismorning that one of the most liberal zones in terms of religion is the South South.
He claimed that there are several states in the South South where the governors and deputy governors are Christians, and yet we have some of the worst administration and leadership that we have seen in a long time, citing Delta State as one of them.
“We have come to the realisation that if we must grow as a people, then we cannot be talking about the personnel relationship of the leader and his God. What we would rather think about is the relationship between the leader, his vision, and the people of Nigeria.
“You will be shocked at the results of the elections from the south south. Our People could not be bothered about the faith of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It is a known fact that his wife, Oluremi who is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, is also a daughter of the zone.
“We prefer to even talk about having our sister and our daughter than talk about even she being a pastor.
“We couldn’t be interested whether she’s a pastor, just as we are not interested whether the husband is a Muslim. What interest us the most, the real interest that we have is predicated on the competence of Bola Tinubu and the fact that the First Lady is going to be our sister and our daughter. That alone is enough for us.
“What he does with his God is his business. What other candidates do with their gods is their business. We’re not interested. That is their personal decision.
“This is the thinking of our people in the south south.
Speaking on the calibre of Shettima, running mate to Asiwaju, Hillard Etta said the people who mean well for our country will look at his stewardship as governor of Borno state and even his instinct in the senate as a senator.
He said it more about that than what he does on Fridays.
Speaking further, Mr Etta said Shettima has done more in Borno than some states in the South.
He added that for those who are desirous of a new Nigeria where you have competence, which takes precedence over all other considerations, then Shettima would be welcomed in every household.
“Even when the people begin to make up their minds as to who to vote for on the 25 February, I think they will favorably contemplate voting for a man who was able to do what was completely near amazing, as Shettima did in Borno”.
Mr Etta urged Nigerians to examine and interrogate Asiwaju’s stewardship when he was governor of Lagos state.
“If Asiwaju says he is going to bring life changing infrastructures into the Nigerian state, then let us look at what he has done in Lagos with the infrastructures he put in place that have been life changing.
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