Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, the All Progressives Congress's presidential contenders, are expected to prevail in the 2023 election, according to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The All Progressives Congress' running mate and vice presidential candidate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, was met by Buhari at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, according to the president's spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu.
Shehu said the president struck a chord of humour while responding to a flowery speech by Shettima, saying, “I will respond to your speech when I am handing over to you and your boss. God willing, you are going to win.”
President Buhari expressed his happiness at the choice of the former governor of Borno as his running mate when he met with the vice presidential candidate shortly after he was introduced by the party leadership and Bola Tinubu.
“I wish you the best. Your consistency in the party is very respectful. You served your two terms as Governor and finished well.
“You have kept touch with your base. At every important occasion or event, you are maintaining support for the one who succeeded you. This is commendable,“ he said.
The president reaffirmed his unwavering confidence that the APC ticket would win in 2023.
The Vice Presidential Candidate thanked the president in his remarks for his "empathy, support, and positive role," which helped him become the APC Presidential Candidate's running partner.
The President, he said, "has a special place in your heart for Borno and the Northeast."
“I can cite 20-30 instances of support you have rendered, for which you will be remembered.”
He mentioned the establishment of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the Independent Power Plant for Maiduguri by the NNPC, “after many years of darkness.”
He added that, “words cannot describe our appreciation of your support. We will remain eternally grateful”.
Shettima asked the president to thank his successor Babagana Zulum and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, for rebuffing "repeated mention" of them and pressure from their fellow governors to run for vice president.
The candidate vowed to be "faithful and devoted" to the president and stated that as vice president, he would serve all of Nigeria, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or country of birth, rather than the "troika of Hausa, Fulani, and Kanuri."
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