President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, met with the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, and the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
It was the first time the ruling party’s presidential running mate would be visiting the seat of power since being selected by the presidential candidate of the party, Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu, who had earlier in the day publicly unveiled Shettima, was conspicuous by his absence during the visit even though it was not immediately known what the mission to the villa was about.
Shettima is the immediate predecessor of Zulum ad Borno State governor.
According to statement issued on the visit later by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), President expressed delight at Shettima’s emergence as the presidential running but withheld his response to the former governor’s remarks on the occasion.
It said Buhari struck a chord of humour on when he told Shettima: “I will respond to your speech when I am handing it over to you and your boss. God willing, you are going to win.”
The statement added that President Buhari said he was very happy with the choice of the former Governor of Borno State as running mate.
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“I wish you the best. Your consistency at the party is very respectful. You served your two terms as Governor and finished well. You have kept in touch with your base. At every important occasion or event, you are maintaining support for the one who succeeded you. This is commendable,“ it quoted the President as saying.
It added that the President expressed strong optimism that the APC ticket will emerge victorious in 2023.
In his remarks, the vice presidential candidate thanked the President for his “empathy, support and positive role,” leading to his emergence as running mate to the APC presidential candidate.
He praised the President for having “a special place in your heart for Borno and Northeast,” adding, “I can cite 20-30 instances of support you have rendered, for which you will be remembered.”
According to the statement, the former governor mentioned the establishment of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), and the Independent Power Plant for Maiduguri by the NNPC, “after many years of darkness,” saying that “words cannot describe our appreciation of your support. We will remain eternally grateful.”
The former Governor of Borno State requested the President to appreciate his successor, Babagana Zulum who was in his company, along with the Minister of State, Agriculture, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, for spurning “recurring mention” of him and pressure from his Governor colleagues to bid for the vice presidential ticket.
Shettima pledged to remain “loyal and devoted” to the President, promising that his vice-presidency will not be for the “troika of Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri,” but for all Nigeria, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or geographical place of origin.
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