By: Taiwo Akerele
On the 10th of July 2022, the APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a personally signed press statement announced the choice of his running mate in the person of His Excellency Senator Kassim Shettima, the former Governor of Borno state. In this very intellectually stimulating statement, BAT spoke on so many issues, but as expected not a few Nigerians will be stalk with the muslim – muslim conundrum.
In this 35 paragraph, 1664 words statement, Tinubu wrote extensively on his mission for Nigeria, about hope for this country, yet many are still fixated about religion, Tinubu wrote about ending poverty during his tenure if elected, and encouraging an enduring prosperity for all and peace across the land, yet many are fixated about religion. Do we lose sight of his choice of the word innovative governance? and taking uncommon and difficult political decisions as one of the attributes of his personality?
Tinubu took time to remind us of his history with assembling quality men and women, best team ever especially when he was governor of Lagos between 1999 and 2007, the records are there, is this true or not? yet small minds will be fixated about religion. He spoke of his antecedents as a decisive and coherent leader who has never shied away from taking responsibilities, yet people may be discussing religion.
His comment on been a man who consults widely and a firm believer in party democracy resonates with many. Tinubu talked about his running mate as a man of character, talent, maturity, patriotism and that he has his implicit confidence, are those words true of Shettima? These are the issues requiring debate and not muslim muslim ticket.
Perhaps Tinubu’s 35 paragraph, 1664 words press statement is a challenge to Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Abubakar Atiku of the PDP, that governance goes beyond social media ovuvuleza, but sitting down to think on how to govern the people and reflecting while considering the socio-political and economic conditions of the citizens.
Again, Tinubu and APC have thrown a big challenge to other contenders to grow and view issues in greater perspectives beyond the controversial but hotly debated issues of religious and ethnic balancing, issues that have not helped the country in anyway all these years.
On this score, it is Tinubu/APC 99, Opposition 0
Taiwo Akerele,
Convener of BATinomics, wrote from Abuja,
