Monarch, northern group warn against distracting Tinubu with VP slot

Traditional ruler of Daffo, Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns, has said those prodding President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to make a pronouncement on the raging issue of who will substitute Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate in 2027 are mistaken.

He said it was too early in the life of the administration for the President to join issues with political jobbers, who are struggling for relevance in 2027, stressing that Tinubu had a four-year mandate, which he was grappling with.

Speaking to The Guardian on the matter, Akuns, who is a strong advocate for the return to the 1963 Republican Constitution, noted that since the choice of a running mate was that of the candidate to make, there was no need to talk about a running mate when nomination had not taken place.

He noted that although the matter was entirely a Tinubu-Shettima affair within their platform, APC, commentators need to understand the dynamics.

“What I am trying to say is that it is too early to make that pronouncement. They have just gone halfway. That will come at the 11th hour, usually. And, I think the commenters that are creating the distraction are largely pursued out of presumption, expectation.

SIMILARLY, a group, Arewa 19 Pyramid for Grassroots Development has urged political stakeholders to desist from distracting President Bola Tinubu and his Vice President Kashim Shettima from the task of governance.

The convener, Mr Ahmed Abdulraheem, stated this at a news conference in Gombe at the weekend. According to Abdulraheem, the Tinubu/Shettima leadership is on the right course towards bringing prosperity and development to Nigeria and must not be distracted by any group or individual.

He said the partnership between Tinubu and Shettima represented not only political stability but also symbolised inclusion, competence and renewed focus on national development.

“It is not yet time for politics, as the present leadership still has time to deliver good governance. Political groups or individuals must not be allowed to shift the attention of Tinubu and Shettima from consolidating on the achievements already recorded.

“Let us stay focused. Let us stay united and let us always remember: “Nigeria first, politics later,” he added.