President Muhammadu Buhari has responded to the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
President Buhari, while receiving Senator Kashim Shettima after he was unveiled by the leadership of the party, disclosed that his consistency and keeping in touch with the people his base earned him the Vice Presidential candidate position.
According to Buhari, “I will respond to your speech when I am handing over to you and your boss, God willing, you are going to win.
“I wish you the best. Your consistency in the party is very respectful. You served your two terms as governor and finished well. You have kept touch with your base.
“At every important occasion or event, you are maintaining support for the one who succeeded you. This is commendable,“ he said.
The President expressed strong optimism that the APC ticket would emerge victorious in the 2023 elections.
In his remarks, the vice-presidential candidate thanked the President for his empathy, support and positive role that led to his emergence as running mate to the APC presidential candidate.
He praised the President for having a special place in his heart for Borno and North East, saying that he can cite 20-30 instances where he enjoyed the support of the President.
Shettima mentioned the establishment of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the Independent Power Plant for Maiduguri by the NNPC after many years of darkness.
He expressed that words cannot describe their appreciation of the support being rendered by President Buhari, assuring of eternal gratitude.
The former Borno State governor requested the President to appreciate his successor, Babagana Zulum, who was in his company, along with the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mustapha Shehuri, for spurning recurring mention of him and pressure from his governor colleagues to bid for the vice-presidential ticket.
He pledged to remain loyal and devoted to the President, promising that his vice-presidency would not be for the troika of Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri, but for all of Nigeria, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or geographical place of origin.
