Tinubu’s VP Slot : merit, competency must take precedence – Governor Yahaya Bello
Kogi State Governor and presidential aspirant in the just concluded presidential primary of the APC, Yahaya Bello, said the party must prioritise merit while choosing Tinubu’s running mate.
Bello said this in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.
He stated, “Whether Muslim-Muslim ticket or a Christian, whether from North-East or from wherever, I am confident that the party is going to come up with someone who will assist in the already victory that we are envisaging ahead of us. So whether you’re Muslim or Christian, we’re all Nigerians.”
The immediate past chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Lagos State, Chief Henry Ajomale, hinted that Tinubu’s running mate would be announced on Thursday night.
In an interview with Newsmen he stated, “By tomorrow night (Thursday), the party will announce the VP candidate because we have to deliver the name to INEC latest by Friday,” he said.
He warned those distracting the party with the noise of Muslim-Muslim to redirect their energies into picking a competent candidate to complement Tinubu’s presidency.
He said, “If you ask me, I don’t think Atiku can pull this country out of its present mess. To put food on someone’s table doesn’t require you to be a Christian or Muslim. I am a Christian myself. The major problem really is who will give Asiwaju the votes. We have no problem about his competence because we know he can deliver and do what he promised the electorate.”
The Chairman of North-East APC Youth Stakeholders Forum, Haruna Sardauna, also confirmed to one of our of correspondents that the party had yet to take a final decision on the issue.
He stated, “I am certain by the midnight of tomorrow (Thursday), they will announce Tinubu’s running mate.”
According to him, If the party decides to run with the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which many of the governors have anticipated, two people have been shortlisted – Kashim Shettima and Mai Mala Buni.
When our correspondent reached out to Tinubu’s campaign director, Bayo Onanuga, he confirmed that the discussion on the running mate was still ongoing.
“I am just arriving in Abuja this afternoon. I really don’t have much information on that now. Let’s just wait till tomorrow,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, too could not be reached for comment.
The Spokesperson for the Christian Association of Nigeria, Adebayo Oladeji, insisted that the choice of the ruling APC to opt for a Muslim-Muslim ticket would incite violence in the country.
He said the association would act accordingly should the APC go ahead with the ticket.
Oladeji said , ‘’We will all see it together, if anyone thinks they can Islamise this country or they are going to persecute Christians, it is a lie. We have stated our mind that it is an invitation to chaos , we know they are going to do it, let them go ahead and we are going to take the right actions at the appropriate time.”
