Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima yesterday explained why the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsed a Christian, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as Senate President.
He said religious tolerance, stability, cohesion and unity of Nigeria were considered before the former Akwa Ibom State governor was tipped as the next National Assembly Chairman.
Apparently echoing the party’s position, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma said any plot to frustrate the decision will fail.
Lagos Central APC Senator-elect Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sani and other groups also hailed the APC’s decision to nominate Akpabio, who they described as an experienced and competent candidate.
Shettima, who endorsed Akpabio for Senate President and Barau Jibrin for the Deputy Senate President addressed over 70 senators-elect, who are members of the Ali Ndume-led Stability Group rooting for their emergence at his campaign office in Abuja.
He said Akpabio’s choice was the best decision made by the party leadership and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, in the interest of a stable polity.
Shettima said: “Politics shouldn’t be a means of disuniting our people. It should rather be a means of uniting us.
The President-elect and the Vice- President-elect are both Muslims.
“It is in the interest of the stability and unity of this country that the next position be given to the Christian faith.
If not, it would further validate the alleged islamisation agenda of the APC-led administration.
“It would be perceived as a gratuitous insult on our Christian brothers and sisters who stuck out their necks to support us.
“That was why I was quite pleased with the choice of the party leadership that my uncommon brother and leader in the person of Senator Godswill Akpabio should be the number three citizen of this country.”