Shettima is perfect as Tinubu’s running mate, says Keyamo

Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour, says Kashim Shettima, former governor of Borno state, is “perfect” to serve as the vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 election, on Sunday announced Shettima as his running mate.

Shettima is a serving senator and a former two-term governor of Borno state.

The announcement came shortly after Ibrahim Masari stepped down as the “placeholder” running mate of Tinubu.

Masari was in June selected as Tinubu’s running mate — but only in a temporary capacity.

Reacting to the development, Keyamo said Shettima complements Tinubu quite well.

Keyamo described Shettima as a “suave gentleman & politician” who is “intellectually fertile, economically sound, [and] intergenerationally mobile”.

The minister added that the former governor is “fiercely loyal” and “phenomenally complimentary” to Tinubu.

“Sen. Kashim Shettima is the perfect choice as VP,” he added.

Quintessential banker & economist, suave gentleman & politician, intellectually fertile, economically sound, intergenerationally mobile (he’s young, yet experienced), fiercely loyal, phenomenally complimentary to @officialABAT; HE Sen. Kashim Shettima is the perfect choice as VP https://t.co/wzdaw1zhfB

— Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) (@fkeyamo) July 10, 2022

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Speaking on his decision to pick a fellow Muslim as his running mate, Tinubu said what mattered the most was “competence in governance”.

“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,” he added.