Why Akpabio - Shettima Was Chosen

Kashim Shettima

Kashim Shettima, the vice president-elect, yesterday outlined the rationale behind the APC's support of Christian senator Godswill Akpabio for Senate President.

He claimed that before the former governor of Akwa Ibom State was predicted to become the next National Assembly Chairman, the nation of Nigeria's religious tolerance, stability, cohesion, and unity were taken into account.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly echoed the party's stance when she stated that any scheme to thwart the decision will fail.

Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sani, the newly elected APC senator for Lagos Central, as well as other organizations applauded the APC's selection of Akpabio, whom they characterized as a qualified and experienced candidate.

At his campaign office in Abuja, Shettima addressed the nearly 70 senators-elect who are supporters of the Ali Ndume-led Stability Group and who had supported Akpabio for Senate President and Barau Jibrin for Deputy Senate President.

According to him, Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, and the party leadership made the best option possible for a stable political environment when they chose Akpabio.

Shettima said: "Politics shouldn't be a means of disuniting our people. It should rather be a means of uniting us. The President-elect and the Vice-President-elect are both Muslims.

"It is in the interest of the stability and unity of this country that the next position be given to the Christian faith. If not, it would further validate the alleged islamisation agenda of the APC-led administration.

"It would be perceived as a gratuitous insult on our Christian brothers and sisters who stuck out their necks to support us.

"That was why I was quite pleased with the choice of the party leadership that my uncommon brother and leader in the person of Senator Godswill Akpabio should be the number three citizen of this country."