The National Spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habeeb Saleh Mohammed, has said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election does not give the All Progressives Congress (APC) any electoral advantage. According to him, Seyi Tinubu under the current government wields more power than Shettima.
Mohammed stated this in an interview with Dailypost on Sunday while reacting to President Tinubu’s announcement on Friday that
Shettima would remain his running mate for the next election.
According to him, the decision was not surprising because
the APC had chosen to follow a familiar path.
“Ordinarily, some people would have expected the President
to pick someone who is more formidable or someone who could bring more votes to
the ticket. But to us, it is a familiar route,” he said.
The Kwankwasiyya spokesperson argued that Nigerians,
particularly those in the North, had already assessed the Muslim-Muslim ticket
based on the experience of the current administration.
“When the Muslim-Muslim ticket was introduced, many people,
especially in the North, defended it because it meant something to them. Today,
people have seen what that arrangement looks like, and I believe the Muslims
themselves are making those judgments,” he said.
Mohammed claimed that retaining Shettima was more about the
President’s convenience than electoral strategy.
“We believe picking him is also a convenience for the
President. As far as the President is concerned, his son is even much more
powerful in this government than Shettima himself. Those who see that believe
the President is simply picking him for his convenience, not because of what he
feels Shettima is going to add,” he said.
He maintained that the decision would not strengthen the
APC’s chances at the polls.
“I don’t think it is a plus, but to us it is okay because we
know very well that we have to do something different for the progress and
development of the nation,” he said.
Mohammed also argued that religion would no longer be a
deciding factor for many voters.
“The Muslim-Muslim ticket deceived so many people,
especially those from the North, during the last election. But it ended in
disappointment. I don’t think it will be an advantage again.”
“People have realised that it is not about religion. It is
about competence, sincerity and what you intend to do. Governance is about
solving people’s problems irrespective of who is affected.”
He questioned Shettima’s contribution to the Tinubu
administration
According to him, many Nigerians could not point to any
significant impact made by the Vice President.
“If you want to measure Shettima’s contribution to this
government, it is difficult because he has not been given the opportunity to
contribute, even if he can,” he said.
According to him, the Vice President has largely been
limited to representing the government at public events.
“I think the administration has a special role for him.
Whenever they feel someone needs to speak, they send him there to do the
talking, and that’s all,” Mohammed said.
He further argued that the administration had not addressed
key challenges facing the North.
“Insecurity has not improved in the northern part of the
country, not even in his own home state. Poverty is still there, the numbers
have not changed, and you cannot really point to what he has done to alter the
situation.”
Mohammed said many people across the region remained
disappointed with the performance of the administration.
“As far as the electorate are concerned, starting from his
home state to the entire North, I don’t think anybody can confidently say this
is what the Vice President has done to help the government or improve the lives
of ordinary Nigerians who continue to struggle with insecurity and other
challenges,” he said.
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