Tinubu also told clerics and others at the gathering, that he is better positioned to change the fortunes of the country than any of his rivals
By Kehinde Okeowo
Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he made his choice of deputy based on character and competence, arguing that his vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima protected Christians while he was the governor of Borno State.
Tinubu made the claims on Thursday, September 22, when he met with some Christian clerics under the aegis of the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria.
The former Lagos State governor made a case for himself saying bettering the lives of Nigerians is more paramount to him than religious considerations.
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He also told the clerics that he is better positioned to change the fortunes of the country than any of his rivals.
Shedding light on his plans, Tinubu said, “How will Nigeria develop? How do we banish hunger? How do we improve the insecurity and how do we eliminate killing one another, and shedding blood on innocent citizens? That is what we must take to the office and not our religion.
“My intention is clear. Not in religiosity. My intention is to develop this country, to bring prosperity to our country and I have better qualifications, better track record, better exposure, better vision than any of my mates.”
Tinubu went on to say, his choice of a fellow Muslim as a running mate is beyond religion and other sentiments but based on his conviction that he is competent.
“When the shortlisted names came, I looked at the characters on the list, their backgrounds and everything and here is somebody (Kashim Shettima) who is so brilliant, so committed, who, during the crisis in Borno protected Christians.”
He then urged Nigerians to shun religious sentiments, saying; “Let us develop intellectual inclusiveness to build an understanding on which way Nigeria.”
Reacting to his comments, the Chairman of Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria, Archbishop John Praise said the body is not endorsing any candidate but giving them the platforms to sell themselves.
He said, “We are not committed to endorsing anybody, but you should ask your conscience and from what you have heard and from the explanations, he (Tinubu) has given to us, to make your own judgment of who will better rule and handle the country.”
A chieftain of the party, Senator Grace Bent from Adamawa State expressed optimism that Tinubu’s victory will usher in a new dawn for the body of Christ in the country.
