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Former Borno Governor Senator Kashim Shettima has said only the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, can defeat the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential race.
According to him: “Asiwaju is the only candidate with pedigree and brand name to stand shoulder to shoulder with Atiku,” warning that an attempt to test any other option might be catastrophic for APC.”
Shetima said supporters of the former Lagos Governor have done their “home work and by God’s grace, our candidate (Tinubu) will emerge in the next 72 hours.”
He said the Tinubu has toured the entire country and he is accepted by all Nigerians.
“It has been a tumultuous welcome and he is accepted across the country. You can see that in Ibadan, Oyo and Ogun States,” Shetima added.
In a live event on Television Continental, (TVC) monitored by our reporter, Shettima noted that the emergence of Atiku as PDP candidate has changed the political landscape and for APC to win , Tinubu must be its flag bearer.
According to Shettima: “Whether Asiwaju’s opponents like it or not, he played a pivotal role, not only in bringing President Muhammadu Buhari to limelight , but was also instrumental to success of APC in the 2015 elections.
“I don’t know why Asiwaju has become a subject of hatred. There is nothing he said that hasn’t been said before.
“In 2011 presidential election, Buhari got 2,0689 votes in Ekiti, got 18,000 in Ogun, and got 6,900 in Osun. To catapult Buhari, in 2015 Buhari got 386,00 votes in Osun, over 3800,000 in Ogun and over 100,000 votes in Ekiti state.
“In 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections, despite Buhari’s strong hold in the north, he didn’t succeed. Asiwaju has paid his dues and should be respected. The difference between Jonathan and Buhari in the election was about 2 million plus and he got that with Tinubu’s work.”
The former governor said Tinubu ought to be treated with respect and dignity because he reclaimed the mandate of former Edo Governor Adam’s Oshiomhole; Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi as well as fomer Governors Olusegun Mimiko and Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.
During the live interview session, he recalled that Before the 2011 election, “a paramount ruler from the north met Tinubu and said Buhari’s emergence is not in my name. Retired Military Generals too met with Tinubu said his emergence is not in their name and even Katsina which is Buhari’s home town rejected him but Tinubu went against all the odds to bring Buhari into power.”
Shettima also recalled that majority of those from the north claimed to be more Catholic than the bishops now, were either supporting former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso or another northerner before President Buhari was eventually elected while he and others stood firm with Buhari.
He said he was bribed $3.5million not to support Buhari but he rejected the money and went ahead to support President Buhari.
Shettima insisted: “There is no other person in the north that can defeat Atiku except Tinubu. I believe the primaries will hold and Tinubu will emerge victorious.”
