Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno says APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu made the “wisest choice” choosing Kashim Shettima as his running mate, describing the latter as a patriotic politician.

Mr Tinubu, on Sunday, announced Mr Shettima as APC vice-presidential candidate.

Mr Zulum described Mr Shettima, a former Borno governor, as a politician with a “very deep understanding of our country.”

“I receive with the greatest joy, the announcement of my mentor, Senator Kashim Shettima as the vice-presidential candidate of our party, the APC and insha’Allah, the next vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” declared the Borno governor. “Shettima’s choice is very personal to me. We shall campaign vigorously, work day and night, to collectively secure an overwhelming victory for the APC in 2023, insha’Allah.”

The Bornor governor also described Mr Shettima as a patriotic politician with firm belief in Nigeria’s unity and had always proved it on many occasions.

He noted that as someone with deep knowledge of the economy, Mr Shettima predicted the fall in oil revenue and value of naira which prompted him to import agricultural products with over N30 billion, making Borno to be one of the richest states in terms of agricultural machinery.

The governor expressed the gratitude of the people of Borno to President Muhammadu Buhari for his leadership and supporting the choice of Mr Shettima as running mate.

APC’s dummy presidential running mate Ibrahim Masari stepped down as Mr Tinubu’s running mate shortly before the announcement of Mr Shettima as the official vice-presidential candidate of the ruling party.

“I had the singular honour and privilege of being nominated as the running mate to Asiwaju Tinubu In June after a keenly contested presidential primary ahead of the 2023 general elections,” said Mr Masari in a letter on Sunday. “After much reflection and wider consultations, I now wish to step down. I realised that my decision will enable Asiwaju to have more latitude to give more accommodation and inclusion that will position our party to win the coming elections, with the support of the people of Nigeria.”

(NAN)