By Marcus Ikechukwu
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has picked former Borno State Governor , Ibrahim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tinubu has also briefed President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently observing the Eid El Kabir festivities in his home town Daura of his chioce of running mate.
A highly-competent source in the Tinubu Campaign Organisation who requested anonymity told ELENDUREPORT.
The source said Tinubu would make the name of the candidate public this week.
The choice of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate comes despite opposition by various interest groups warning against a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
According to the source, in picking the running mate, Tinubu was not thinking about religion, but about competence, exposure and intellectual depth of the candidate.
“The considerations given for the choice of a running mate were dictated by the need to choose an individual capable of working with the presidential candidate to take Nigeria to greater heights,’’ the source said.
Tinubu is scheduled to pay Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina, on Sunday to brief him on his chosen running mate.
The former two-term Lagos State governor won the APC’s presidential ticket at the party’s June 8 special national convention and presidential primary election.
He earlier chose Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, as a placeholder for the vice-presidential slot.
Tinubu was away in France from June 27 on a short vacation during which he held some strategic meetings. He returned to Nigeria on Saturday early enough for Sallah festivities.