From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
For the second time in a row, All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential candidate for 2023 elections, Bola Tinubu, is absent as President Muhammadu Buhari host stakeholders of the ruling party in the State House, Abuja.
The delegation which consists of the Vice Presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Kebbi Governor Atiku Bagudu and other key members of the party were ushered in to see the President at about 03:00 pm, Friday.
Buhari had met Shettima on Wednesday shortly after he was
unveiled as Tinubu’s substantive running mate at Yar’Adua center.
The former Borno State Governor had on Wednesday told State House Correspondents that he “felt morally bound” to thank the president personally, before returning with a larger delegation on Friday.
On the condemnation that had trailed the Muslim-Muslim ticket floated by his party, Shettima had said the APC ticket is not designed to protect the interests of one faith as there are religious leaders to do that.
“In Borno, we spent over N1 billion rebuilding churches destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgency. And this legacy has been continued by Governor Babagana Zulum. We have taken more Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem than some of the Northern States headed by Christians.
“So, we have that history of inclusivity, of togetherness. What we need is competent leadership. We are not coming into government to represent the Muslim or the Christian faith. The Sultan of Sokoto is eminently qualified to protect Muslim interests and the CAN president is eminently qualified to defend Christian interests as well,” he said.
Details later …
