Tinubu’s VP Choice -Shettima- Unsettles Northern APC Govs As Buharist, Bwala Dumps Party

'Dotun Akintomide
Writer
Tinubu 2023: Project 37 Activates Campaigns In 774 LGAs

Ad

Oil Prices Aren’t Likely To Rise Anytime Soon

Analysts surveyed by Reuters expect Brent Crude to average $67.65 per barrel and WTI Crude to average $64.65 per barrel this year, with slight adjustments from previous forecasts. Factors contributing to the subdued oil price outlook include rising supply from OPEC+ and non-OPEC+ producers, slowing demand growth post-summer, and uncertainties from U.S. trade policies. Major…

US denies visas for Palestinian officials before UN assembly

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has announced it is denying and revoking visas for members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September. The announcement was made in a statement released by the US Department of State on Friday. “The…

2027: Crack as Tinubu’s Northern ally, Senator Marafa Dumps APC, accuses president of betrayal, neglect

By Obinna Uballa A major crack has emerged in President Bola Tinubu’s Northern political base as a key stakeholder and former Zamfara Central Senator, Kabiru Garba Marafa, together with his supporters, have all resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the president of betrayal and neglect. Marafa, who reportedly coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation…

Ad

..Northern APC Governors Run To Buhari In Daura

The decision by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in tapping the Kashim Shettima as his running mate is currently unsettling the northern APC Governors and some members of the ruling party, The New Diplomat has learnt.

Shettima, a former two-time Governor of Borno State — Northeast Nigeria — and a muslim as Tinubu’s running mate, formerly put paid to the weeks-long speculations surrounding the faith of Tinubu’s joint ticket holder. The former Lagos Governor didn’t do otherwise despite loud calls, urging him to do the opposite of some postulations predicted, instead he gunned and settled for a Muslim-Muslim ticket at this precarious time in the life of the nation.

While this should ordinarily not be a concern for some Northern APC Governors who had backed this political initiative all along, insisting it would be a good sell in the Northwest and Northeast, there has been an uneasy calm in there fold since Tinubu picked Shettima, said to be his long-time loyalist.

Some of the Governors, including Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State had been involved in the process of helping Tinubu arrive at the decision, with some said to be courting Tinubu to land the VP slot themselves.

It was said that while the Governors understand that the APC presidential candidate has the prerogative to decide who should be his running mate, APC Governors in the Northwest in particular, had rooted for one of their own from the region, on the account of the highest voting population that Northwest commands, with 20% of registered voters in the country.

The New Diplomat learnt that another reason of concern among the Northern Governors was the manner in which Tinubu announced his choice for the VP slot as it was reported there had been a prior understanding that the unveiling would be done with the Governors present, to show consent and agreement. “However, going ahead to announce as if they did not matter in the equation,” according to a media source, even triggered more concerns.

According to reports, some the APC governors, who were unhappy with the announcement of Kashim Shettima by Tinubu as his running mate, have scheduled to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari today in Daura, to formally register their reservations before deciding on what to do next ahead of 2023.

Meanwhile, minutes after the announcement by Tinubu, Mr Daniel Bwala, a lawyer and a dyed-in-the-wool supporter of President Buhari expressed his displeasure over the decision in a tweet as he resigned his membership of the APC.

Bwala, who tweeted via his verified account @BwalaDaniel, immediately after the unveiling of Shettima, posted: “Tonight, I officially resigned my membership of @OfficialAPCng on principles and conviction that I hold so dear. At this time of our national existence, our efforts and energy should gravitate towards uniting our people.

“Asiwaju has announced Kashim Shettima as his running mate. Kwankwaso is planning to announce a Pentecostal bishop as his running mate. Interesting times lie ahead.”

Also, Senator Ishaku Abbo, from Adamawa, who was on some of the Tinubu support groups and committees, was reported to have sent scathing message to the group, in which he criticised Tinubu for going against popular counsel to choose a Muslim-Muslim ticket, saying “if as an ordinary citizen, Tinubu has refused to listen to counsel, then, he would be worse as president,” as he reportedly resigned his membership of all the Tinubu support committees, promising to officially make the announcement soon.

Ad

X whatsapp