After a long wait the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally declared Borno State former Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 General Election.
Asiwaju Tinubu made the declaration in Daura, the hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari after holding a one-hour closed-door meeting at the President’s residence.
He described Sen. Shettima as “competent and reliable” and dismissed concerns over him and his running mate being Muslims.
Nigerians are however showing that they’re bothered.
The activist, Aisha Yesufu says the Muslim-Muslim ticket is an insult to fairness, equity, and justice.
A Muslim-Muslim ticket is an insult to fairness, equity and justice. It is see finish. It is impunity of the worst kind.
— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) July 10, 2022
It is disrespect to people of the federal Republic of Nigeria.
It shows they have little regards for people and think their structure is more valuable.
As a Muslim, it’s divisive and irresponsible to even contemplate a Muslim-Muslim ticket let alone carrying it out. Muslims should resist this as we won’t take anything Christian-Christian ticket now or in future. This is absurd.
— AAA (Aminin Dadiyata) (@DrealAdo) July 10, 2022
The continual failure of APC as a party is obvious not only from Buhari’s misrule but also with moves such as the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Tinubu.
— 'Demola Olarewaju (@DemolaRewaju) July 11, 2022
How on earth is a party so incoherent that nobody can even advise these men behind closed doors to think straight and do right?
For some others, religious sentiment shouldn’t be an issue in the 21st century.
I'm a Christian and a living faith church member, i care not on what my pastor says or what my GO said about @OfficialAPCNg I'm voting for Muslim/Muslim ticket, I'm not a religious bigot just that I'm BATIFIED and JAGABANIST https://t.co/nsjnNGgT4x
— Lt.General Kontriman pikin ☺ (@Hasfat1) July 10, 2022
I stand, support and happy for Muslim - Muslim Presidency not ticket ooo but a country runs by a competent Muslim President and a competent Vice President. Congratulations to @KashimSM @officialABAT . Simple live issue pic.twitter.com/qc9tYFj5d2
— Woye (@woye1) July 10, 2022
Other persons are worried that the interest of Christians in national politics may never be considered if the APC wins the 2023 presidential election.
I know people gotta do what they have to do to win elections but a Muslim-Muslim ticket, if they win will be the end of the Christian interest in National politics conversations.
— Man of Letters. (@Letter_to_Jack) July 10, 2022
So Christian Northerns do not matter? The Christian Northerns in the APC ain’t Northern enough? This is the marginalization that these martyrs face daily and the APC is finally bringing the discrimination to a wider political scale.
— FS Yusuf (@FS_Yusuf_) July 11, 2022