By Chance Adingupu
Following allegations that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was an orchestrated ploy to Islamise Nigeria, Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima has again sought to allay those fears.
Senator Shettima on Saturday dismissed these concerns which had dogged them since the campaigns saying in no uncertain terms that he and his principal, Bola Tinubu, have no such agenda to Islamise Nigeria.
Speaking at a lecture in Abuja, as part of the events around Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, the incoming Vice President reminded Nigerians that the President-elect is a Muslim who is married to a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
“I was a child of necessity, there is no Islamisation agenda. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Muslim who is married to a Christian, not only a Christian but a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
“Someone who has not Islamised his family, people are alluding that he has the intention to Islamise the nation,” he added.
The Vice President-elect revealed why he picked an Igbo man as Chief Security Officer and another Christian as his Aide de Camp, ADC, saying, these decisions were based on his efforts to encourage togetherness and inclusivity.
“Politics is about perception. As we begin the formation of a new administration, I deliberately picked an Igbo man, a Catholic, to be my Chief Security Officer,” he stated.
“For the purpose of inclusivity and togetherness, again I deliberately picked a Northern Christian to be my ADC. So the so-called founder of Boko Haram is going to be protected by…”
The remaining part of his speech was drowned by applause.
