Bola Tinubu: I’ve better qualifications, track record, exposure than my rivals
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, APC's presidential candidate, met with several Christian clerics late on Thursday under the auspices of the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria.
He claimed to be in a better position than any of his rivals to advance the fortunes of the nation to the priesthood.
He asserted that his decision to choose a Muslim as his running mate was driven by his commitment to public service rather than by religion or other considerations.
Tinubu clarified his intentions by asking, "How will Nigeria develop? How can hunger be eradicated? How can we reduce violence and stop people from killing one another and bloodying innocent people? We must bring that to work rather than our religion.
“My intention is clear. Not in religiosity. My intention is to develop this country, to bring prosperity to our country and I have better qualifications, better track record, better exposure, better vision than any of my mates.”
On the choice of his running mate, Tinubu said; “When the shortlisted names came, I looked at the characters on the list, their backgrounds and everything and here is somebody (Kashim Shettima) who is so brilliant, so committed, who, during the crisis in Borno protected Christians.”
He then urged Nigerians to shun religious sentiments, saying; “Let us develop intellectual inclusiveness to build an understanding on which way Nigeria.”
In his comment, the Chairman of Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria, Archbishop John Praise said; “We are not committed to endorsing anybody, but you should ask your conscience and from what you have heard and from the explanations, he (Tinubu) has given to us, to make your own judgment of who will better rule and handle the country.”
A chieftain of the party, Senator Grace Bent from Adamawa State expressed optimism that Tinubu’s victory will usher in a new dawn for the body of Christ in the country.