A group, calls Northern Progressive Christian Alliance, (NPCA) has said that the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima by APC’s Presidential Candidate, Senator Ahmed Tinubu is a round peg in a round hole
The group which claims to be an interdenominational Christian forum for promoting peaceful Coexistence and religious tolerance, said the decision to back Senator Shettima was on ground of competence, performance and love for Christians during his days as Borno Governor.
“It is high time Nigerians rose above ethnic or religious sentiments in the consideration of choice of leaders at all levels of governance”.It stressed.
The Christian group, which made these assertions in a statement made available to journalists in Kaduna on Monday said the election of a President and his running mate as well as other political positions shouldn’t be measured on basis of tribe, religious and regional interests ,but on who can work and tackle the plethora of problems facing the country.
Reacting to the trending allegation that Senator Shettima created and has been sponsoring Boko Haram, ” “We challenge those behind the allegations to provide evidence with an assurance that our group will mobilize Nigerians to reject him outrightly and if none ,they should stop the campaign of calumny.
:” We know all the efforts he has done to rescue the Chibok girls and end Boko Haram insurgency at the risk his life.
“Good number of our members in Borno and the Borno CAN Chairman Bishop Naga have confirmed that under Shettima as Governor, between 2011 and 2019 , the Christian communities in Borno enjoyed a better deal and gave priority to growth and development of all residents in the State .
“We also gathered that in the history of Borno there was no Governor that worked with Christian community and sponsored highest number of Christian Pilgrims every year since 2011as much as Shettima .
“We want Nigerians to know that Part of his principles of fairness gave reason that the Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong was elected the Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum after he insisted his successor must be a Christian.
The group noted that Shettima didn’t choose himself, but Tinubu, who sees him as a round peg in a round hole.
“We therefore urge Nigerians to rather view the ticket as a combine force that will help to tackle the issues of insecurity; poverty, unemployment, dwindling economy , dearth of industrial growth and several problems militating against growth and development of the country .”
