Some weeks back, after the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the flag bearer of All Progressives Congress, APC, for the presidential race come 2023, serious-minded Nigerians were curious to look at who will be his running mate. A democratic government, according to Abraham Lincoln, must be with equity, fairness, transparency, etc and he wants to maintain that standard. The issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket in APC has generated attention on social media platforms.
Tinubu, a political heavyweight, needs no introduction, he is well-known like money. For the sake of the younger ones who may not know him, Asiwaju is the erstwhile two-term governor of Lagos state who served between 1999 and 2007 and the former senator for Lagos West, Lagos state. In terms of political strategy, I can’t say he is second to none but he is brilliant.
Since his victory as the APC flag-bearer, BAT has been faced with the dilemma of whom to pick as his running mate. He ruminated, cogitated and racked his brain before he got the answer of his thinking mathematics by selecting whom he thinks he can bring about good governance in the country.
On Sunday, Asiwaju dropped the bombshell and quenched the long-time expectation of patriotic Nigerians. He proclaimed the former northern governor of Borno state, Senator Kashim Shetima, as his running mate for the 2023 election. This has resulted in the mixed feeling of some people and some are raining the words of appreciation on his head. Social media was awash with the news, to the extent that I rarely scroll down on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc without my eyes catching the burning discussion of Shetima appointment as the running mate.
The 1993 presidential election, which is referred to as the free and fair election was in the favour of Ogun state-born political panjandrum, Cheif Moshood Abiola, the publisher of the bilingual newspaper, Concord Newspaper and (Iwe Iroyin Isokan), which was later annulled by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. The full-blooded Yoruba, then, were in anguish for denying a softhearted, pragmatic politician a chance to clinch power. Going down the memory lane, one could observe that 1993 general elections, where Chief Abiola (Southerner, Muslim) and his running mate, Alhaji Babagana Kinnigbe (Northerner, Muslim) threw his hat into the ring under the umbrella of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ended in bad fate. Tinubu’s ardent followers have been praying for history not to repeat itself, because his choice is akin to that of late Abiola.
Two renowned clergymen, the duo of the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Dioceses; Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, and the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Borno State Chapter; Bishop Naga Williams Mohammed, have appreciated the presidential aspirant — BAT for the sagacity he displayed in the selection of his running mate. Bishop Kukah said: “If people feel unhappy with the kind of choices that have been made, that’s why we are democratic, you can’t force it… And there is no guarantee that all Christians will vote for Christians.”
Going by what this man of God said, I can never refuse to go by his word being a shepherd. The reason for my total submission to his opinion can be avouched in the sacred book of the Bible, Ezekiel 34:11-16 states: “For thus says the Lord GOD: “Indeed I will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day…”
Let’s rally round Tinubu being from the South. If the rotation of power is considered, it is the turn of the South to clinch the mantle, though not constitutional but for the sake of fairness and equity. He foresees good governance, development, tranquil coexistence will come out from the Samaritan of Kashim Shettima, may be the reason he is appointed. Religious bigotry or fanaticism should be disallowed from engulfing our hearts.
Prince Inaolaji writes from Ogbomoso, Ondo state.
