Shettima clarifies intentions behind support for Akpabio amid twisted allegations
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed concern about the misrepresentation of his recent remarks in support of Senator Godswill Akpabio’s candidacy for the presidency of the 10th Senate, which has caused division among the people.
Shettima clarified that his endorsement of Akpabio was not intended to belittle anyone or any specific region, but rather to emphasize the significance of diversity and justice.
In a statement released by Abiola Sola, Director of Information in the Office of the Vice President, it was explained that Shettima’s support for Akpabio stemmed from his awareness of the divisive factors within the country.
The statement further emphasized that Shettima’s stance aligned with the governing party’s commitment to promoting inclusivity across all regions and groups.
Sola highlighted that Shettima’s remarks had been taken out of context and deliberately circulated to undermine the suitability of Muslim candidates in the race for Senate leadership.
The statement expressed concern over the misinterpretation of Shettima’s plea for a fair balance, suggesting that the lawmakers should consider choosing a non-Muslim candidate, even if less qualified, to ensure inclusivity.
The statement pointed out that the intention behind Shettima’s advocacy was to prevent potential crises in the country, particularly by those who anticipate domination of leadership positions by individuals from the same religious faith.
Shettima also warned against certain political elements exploiting the situation to propagate their campaigns of calumny against the country and the Tinubu administration.
According to the statement, some entities and individuals were covertly pushing for Muslim leadership of the National Assembly, aiming to use it as a means to legitimize their grievances against the Nigerian state and incite chaos.
It shed light on the paradoxical situation where lawmakers who opposed a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket were now actively advocating for political arrangements that would result in Muslims occupying the highest positions in the country.
The statement emphasized that Shettima’s remarks had been wrongly interpreted by the public, and he sought to distance himself from the dangerous inferences drawn from his words.
It acknowledged that while some misunderstandings may have occurred innocently, certain entities had exploited the situation to further fuel divisions, extending beyond the realm of power politics.
Shettima appealed for inclusivity to prevent any agenda that aimed to undermine the new government and Nigeria as a whole.
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