Yoruba elders ask Shettima to step down as Tinubu’s running mate

Elders from southwest Nigeria have rejected the All Progressives Congress decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

The group, under the aegis of Coalition of APC Stakeholders Network and Southwest Supporters of Tinubu, made the call on Monday during a peace protest to the State House Alausa.

According to them, the only obstacle between the former Lagos State and the presidency in 2023 is his running mate, Senator Kassim Shettima.

In his address, the group’s President-General, Elder Arokoyo Samuel, described Tinubu as a “political colossus and astute political strategist” who has successfully built an enviable foundation for the party.

Elder Samuel added that, “he has also been crucial in the nation’s democracy being an important figure for almost four decades, hence his emergence as APC presidential candidate was perceived as a breadth of fresh air”.

Rejecting the combination, he said, “As a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country, any attempt for one religion to dominate the political structure could only widen the gap of mistrust and destroy the delicate sense of tolerance cultivated over the years.

“Hence, the choice of Shettima was not only ill-timed but also a total disregard for the diversity of the country, crushing the bridges built to connect the religious differences and promote ethnic harmonious co-existence”.