From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The Arewa Extra Network for Tinubu-Shettima 2023 Project said on Saturday that the North is indebted to Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling on the region to reciprocate the kindness by giving him its votes.
The group argued that the ongoing APC same-faith ticket debate was unnecessary because anything contrary to that would have amounted to minority/minority ticket if Tinubu had picked a northern Christian, describing the choice of Sen Ibrahim Kashim Shettima as the best bet for the party.
Speaking in Kaduna at the maiden Arewa Extra Network 2023 Tinubu-Shettima Project leadership summit/convention, themed “APC Same Faith Ticket: Matters Arising”, the group’s adviser, Aminu Danyaro, noted that the North has to support Tinubu because his worked had to ensure Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence as Nigerian President in 2015 after three failed attempts.
“The people of Northern Nigeria are indebted to Bola Ahmed Tinubu because when Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari contested three times to become Nigerian president, he could not get it until when Tinubu supported him,” he said.
“That is why we must pay him back now that he is contesting. Apart from that, he is the best politician from the South who should be voted for the unity and progress of Nigeria.
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“In Northern Nigeria, we have three problems which are insecurity, economic deterioration and educational backwardness. We hope by the grace of God that, if we vote Tinubu as the Next Nigerian President, he will do away with these problems,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the convention, “APC Same-Faith Ticket: Matters Arising”, Northwest Coordinator of the group Ismail Musa said: “Tinuba carefully chosen Shettima as his running mate in order to disappoint those who thought he was going to chose a wrong running mate.
“The arithmetic is that, Tinubu is a Muslim and Muslims are minority in the South apart from the Southwest that has a higher percentage of its population as Muslims.
“So, his political opponent thought he was going to pick a northern Christian as running mate so it will be minority/minority ticket.
“Asiwaju as a brilliant politician chose Kashim Shettima who represent Muslim majority from the North. Christians who want good governance will be comfortable with the choice of Shettima.
“So, Tinubu and Shettima are compatible candidates to vie for highest political office in the land and we all must eschew our religious differences and give him massive support come 2023,” he said.
Coordinator of the network in the state and the host of the convention that has representatives of women and youths from all the 19 northern states Abdullahi Musa appreciated the guests and assured them of their security while in Kaduna just as he prayed for their safe return to their various destinations.