If the Presidency is transferred to the South, Shettima said, no one from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region is more qualified to lead the country than Bola Tinubu. Shettima was speaking at the Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu support group conference held in Abuja on Monday.
He further claimed that after making so many sacrifices for Nigeria and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), it was now time to give back to the country.
Shettima, who was reportedly speaking against the backdrop of the statement published by the Northern Leaders of Thought in Kaduna at the weekend, stated that the future of the country depends on the election of a "unifier" like Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president of Nigeria.
The governor referred to Tinubu as a "leader of leaders," a man who exploited his extensive network to help enthrone the current administration.
"While Tinubu's political contemporaries were trading their principles for a seat at the table in Abuja during President Olusegun Obasanjo's era, and throwing their political allies under the bus, he took the risk to build a political alternative to the ruling party, and his choices of candidates underlined his political credentials," he explained. "
It is easy to see how Asiwaju's choices and support of northerners for president coincided with others' efforts to forge regional solidarity and stoke socio-cultural affinities, confirming his pan-Nigerian persona. Rather than seeing divisions to exploit, he sees opportunities for collaborations. In fact, it's this patience that has brought us all together today to commemorate his example as well as our obligation to him".
"The attempts to weave ridiculous fiction to override the history we've all witnessed demonstrate the detractors' utter desperation and cowardice," Shettima said of the controversy during the Tinubu era. " One is his mischievous focus on his age, which leads to the erroneous conclusion that he is physically unfit to hold the office of President. This fixation typifies the way of thinking of those who do not comprehend Asiwaju's amazing work ethic and perseverance.
"It is not the ability to carry a bag of cement that distinguishes great leadership. It is the mental work required to come up with sensible answers in order to redeem one's people and territorial authority from adversity.
It is not my intention to stifle your critical assessments of your future leaders, but rather to encourage you to look at the bigger picture. " The purpose of our visit is not to prepare for the Olympics, but rather to support a cultural institution that thrives on the superiority of ideas."
Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Federal Government, indicated in his statement that, despite the fact that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed to live up to expectations, the party is dedicated to producing Asiwaju as the party's flagbearer in the 2019 elections.
He stated that members of Tinubu's support organisations were prepared and determined to work for his election as the party's presidential candidate by any mode of primary that the party desired.
Lawal stated that when it comes to determining who should succeed Buhari, Tinubu is unsurpassed, adding that there is no one in the APC who can compete with him in terms of capacity at the time.
He therefore asked the groups to work hard for the success of their candidate, stating that he possesses the qualities necessary to ensure that Nigeria has a prosperous future.