On the Sunday, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, announced his choice of running mate to the Nigerian voters.

After so much controversies and debates about muslim-muslim ticket, the former two-term governor and strong man of Lagos state settle for it, and in making that choice he gave his reasons, stating why he could not have made a better choice, or perhaps how he was left with no other option.

The APC flagbearer choose Kashim Shettima, the former governor of Borno State, as his running mate for the Febraury 2023 presidential election.

He was said to have made this announcement after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at his hometown, Daura in Katsina, where the president has retired for his Salah holiday.

This Sunday announcement of Kashim Shettima, a northern Muslim has eventually brought to an end the almost endless speculation that Bola Tinubu, even as a southern Muslim might choose another Muslim from the north as a running mate.

Senator Tinubu in his address heralding his choice of VP pick tried to justify his eventual decision on the very sensitive issue of religion. He said that his choice of Shettima goes beyond religion and ethnicity, but a decision made on the bases of “competence in governance”.

How true is this claim? It goes without doubt that there are multiple Nigerians who would never agree with this claim by the APC presidential candidate.

To those who will forever doubt this Tinubu`s stand, they will hold that the most pivotal factor in Tniubu`s consideration is RELIGION.

They will argue that if the issue of “competence in governance” ever came in for discussion at all, it was after the column of religion was already ticked in favour of a Muslim running mate.

Another factor may have also far outweighed “competence in governance” as the APC flagbearer claimed is geopolitics – Nigeria`s zoning considerations, but only with respect with the competition from the opposition.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People`s Democratic Party (PDP) is from Adamawa. Borno where Kashim Shettima hails from and Adamawa are both northeastern states.

This geopolitical consideration may also explain why the Kaduna State governor, Mallam El-Rufai may have lost to Kashim Shettima. This is exactly so when you closely consider Tinubu`s claim of “competence in governance” as what informed the choice of Shettima.

While the choice of a running mate from the northeast may ordinarily seem strategic, the choice of a Muslim sure do have its challenges, which may not be easy to dissipate.

As the 2023 political endgame continues to the next phases of it, the nation will test this obviously controversial muslim-muslim ticket that the APC have settled for and come February, the die will be cast.

Notable Quotes:

In the statement by the APC flag bearer, he made the following comments:

“In 1993, Nigerians embrace Chief MKO Abiola and a fellow Muslim running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe in one of our fairest elections ever held. The spirit of 1993 is upon us again in 2023. .

“I am mindful of the energetic discourse concerning the possible religion of my running mate. Just and noble people have talked to me about this. Some have counselled that I should select a Christian to please the Christian community. Other have said I should pick a Muslim to appeal to the Muslim community. Clearly, I cannot do both,” Tinubu said.

“May I say this to all of you, especially to those who will be disappointed in my selection based on religious considerations. I will not and cannot ignore the religious concerns and ethnic sensitivities of our people.

“Taking them into due consideration is an important part of good and able governance. But religion, ethnicity and region cannot always and fully determine our path.

“To forge ahead as a nation toward development and prosperity, we must break free of old binds. We must recalibrate our political calculations to where competence and fairness matter more than reductive demographics.

“I am aware that many will continue to focus on a particular detail, the question of his faith. However, if we truly understand the challenges upon us a nation, then we must also see the imperative of placing competence in governance above religious sentiment.

“In 1993, Nigerians embrace Chief MKO Abiola and a fellow Muslim running mate, Baba Gana Kingibe in one of our fairest elections ever held. The spirit of 1993 is upon us again in 2023.

“As such, the ticket we present today represents a milestone in our political history. It symbolizes our party’s determination to be a leading light among political parties in Africa.”