Governor of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal, has resumed campaigns for his 2023 presidential bid, barely allowing the dust to settle on the death of Deborah Samuel, a Christian female student who was stoned and lynched by Islamic extremists under his watch.

Mr Tambuwal, in pictures shared by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, had visited Kogi state to woo delegats ahead of this month’s party primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Foremost People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful, Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state and his team touched base in Lokoja, Kogi state, to solicit the votes of the party’s delegates at the forthcoming party primary billed for month end,” Mr Bello wrote on Facebook.

Following the murder of Ms Samuel on May 12 by a mob of Muslim fanatics over allegation of blasphemy on a school WhatsApp chat group, Mr Tambuwal had cancelled his presidential campaign tour to meet with Muslim leaders in the state.

Mr Tambuawal’s decision to later impose a curfew (now relaxed) was greeted by several Nigerians and organisations including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Kukah, and several others.

However, the Sokoto governor’s decision to quietly resume campaigning for the 2023 presidency, while damning public opinion, has elicited criticism on his fitness to govern a religiously diverse and charged country such as Nigeria.