The President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday met with stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress without the party’s running mate, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The APC delegation comprises the Vice Presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, Kebbi Governor Atiku Bagudu and others.
The meeting with the top APC stakeholders which commenced around 3pm on Friday was the second time the party’s candidate has been absent from such meetings hosted by the President.
Buhari hosted Shettima after he was unveiled as the running mate at Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja on Wednesday.
Shettima had told State House Correspondents that he visited the President to show gratitude before the President’s meeting with the larger delegation of stakeholders on Friday.
Shettima who also spoke on the lingering condemnation of the APC’s Muslim/Muslim ticket said that the ticket was not designed to protect any religion.
He recalled how the Borno State Government under his leadership spent over N1 billion to rebuild churches destroyed by Boko Haram Terrorists.
He said that Governor Babagana Zulum had also continued with the tradition of inclusivity.
According to him, what the APC needs is competence as it would not be taking over government to defend religion.
“In Borno, we spent over N1 billion rebuilding churches destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgency. And this legacy has been continued by Governor Babagana Zulum.
“We have taken more Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem than some of the Northern States headed by Christians. So, we have that history of inclusivity, of togetherness.
“What we need is competent leadership. We are not coming into government to represent the Muslim or the Christian faith.
“The Sultan of Sokoto is eminently qualified to protect Muslim interests and the CAN president is eminently qualified to defend Christian interests as well,”
Details later …
