Smart Adeyemi who is the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District has on Sunday, revealed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 presidential running mate, Kashim Shettima did not beg his principal, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be picked as his running mate.
Smart had reiterated this while he had been speaking on some of the national issues on Sunday at a press conference, saying that, “wild reactions trailing the APC on its choice of Shettima, a Muslim”, was normal in participatory democracy.
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The third time lawmaker in the upper legislative chamber had also noted that the Muslim-Muslim ticket had been a necessary error by the ruling APC, but was quick to maintain that Nigerians should look at capacity in Tinubu/Shettima rather than their religious faith.
He said, “Nigerians should rise above religious sentiment and look out for leaders who can wriggle the nation out of social and political malaise,” insisting that the Muslim-Muslim ticket has happened and should be embraced.
This, he said, may not be comfortable to some individuals and groups, like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which he confirmed, were making valid reasons APC shouldn’t have presented Muslim-Muslim ticket.
He said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, let me begin by thanking the APC, our great Party, for its decision in zoning the Presidency to the Southern part of Nigeria. The APC has proven beyond any doubt, that it is committed to national unity, and peace.
“I also commend, not just the executives under the leadership of Senator Adamu Abdullahi, but also the leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari. I equally want to salute the northern Governors for setting their individual goals aside, and standing firm and taking a position on the issue of zoning, insisting that the presidential candidate should emerge from the Southern part of Nigeria.
“And today, on one hand, we have a presidential candidate in the person of his Excellency, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Asiwaju of Lagos.”
“My first direct contact with Ashiwaju was about 20 years ago. And on the other hand, we have Senator Ibrahim Shettima as the Vice-presidential Candidate. I also have known Shettima for over twelve years now.”
He commended the APC for ensuring that presidency is zoned to the South which he said, would unite the country, while he lashes at other political parties for being sensitive to the zoning.
