Addressing concerns regarding allegations of an agenda to Islamize Nigeria, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, along with his principal President, Bola Tinubu, has emphasized that there is no such intention.
Following Tinubu’s announcement of Shettima as his running mate in 2022, speculations arose due to the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the multi-religious nature of Nigeria.
However, during a lecture in Abuja on Saturday, May 27, ahead of Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, the incoming Vice President clarified that there is no plan to Islamize Africa’s most populous nation.
Kashim Shettima pointed out that Tinubu himself is a Muslim who is married to a Christian and is a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, highlighting the religious diversity within Tinubu’s personal life as evidence of a commitment to religious inclusivity.
“I was a child of necessity, there is no Islamisation agenda. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Muslim who is married to a Christian, not only a Christian but a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
“Someone who has not Islamised his family, people are alluding that he has the intention to Islamise the nation,” he added.
Kashim Shettima revealed that he picked an Igbo man of the Catholic faith to be his Chief Security Officer.
“Politics is about perception. As we begin the formation of a new administration, I deliberately picked an Igbo man, a Catholic, to be my Chief Security Officer,” he stated.
“For the purpose of inclusivity and togetherness, again I deliberately picked a Northern Christian to be my ADC. So the so-called founder of Boko Haram is going to be protected by…”
Earlier this week, Vice President, Kashim Shettima stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs and a Christian Southerner, as a candidate for the Senate President position. This decision was made to ensure a diverse representation in the top officials of the incoming administration, avoiding a scenario where all key positions would be held by individuals of the same faith.
