Vice President Kashim Shettima says is agitation for a Christian senate president of southern extraction has been twisted.
Shettima had, during an interactive session with senators campaigning for the emergence, as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, of Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin, on Sunday, said a Southern Christian should emerge senate president so as to even things out because of the present political dynamics of the country.
In a statement by Abiola Sola, Director of Information, in his office, the Vice President’s statement was spurred by a compelling knowledge of the divisive factors within the nation and was in tandem with the governing party’s pledge to ensure inclusivity across all regions and among all groups.
The statement said the remarks have unfortunately been twisted and mischievously shared as an attempt to water down the suitability of Muslim contestants in the race for the Senate leadership.
It noted that President Bola Tinubu has wholeheartedly reassured the country of his dedication to providing every group with equal representation, which, it pointed out, has resonated with the Vice President who shares the same commitment to this honourable endeavour.
The statement added: “The remarks have not only been taken out of context but also misinterpreted to suit an agenda that sabotages our collective bid for unity.
“What Vice President Shettima advocated during the meeting was that considering Nigeria’s President and Vice President are Muslims, it would not be ill-advised for the lawmakers to choose a non-Muslim contestant, even if against a more qualified Muslim option, in order to achieve balance.
“It is alarming that such an unambiguous plea has been unfairly misconstrued to imply that the Vice President said the most incompetent Christian candidate is superior to a Muslim candidate. One can understand why this absurd interpretation would be found distressing and hijacked by those with a malicious agenda to push.”
The statement affirmed that Shettima’s position reflects the stance of the APC, which it said, has not only assigned the leadership of the House of Representatives to the North-West but has also designated the position of Deputy Senate President to be held by the same region.
It added: “At the time of the Vice President’s remarks, approximately three contenders for the Speakership race had withdrawn their candidacy to support the candidate from the North-West.
“This well-considered balancing strategy aimed to mitigate the potential for crisis within the country, particularly by those anticipating the domination of leadership from the same religious faith in all branches of government as a signal.
“It would be illogical for the Vice President, who is himself a Muslim and an essential member of the community, to second-guess the competence of fellow Muslims in a nation headed by a Muslim President who has demonstrated unmatched leadership qualities, on the strength of which they were elected under the banner of the APC last February.”
According to the statement, the Vice President distanced himself from what it referred to as the wrong and dangerous inferences drawn by the public from his remarks.
It further said: “While some are made innocently and without mischief, there are entities that have seized on the story to cause further chaos that transcends the realm of power politics.
“This weaponization of our divisions is why the Vice President appeals for inclusivity to prevent any agenda designed to undermine the new government and Nigeria as a whole”
Discussion about this post