If leadership is based on competence, Tinubu, with one degree, cannot beat Prof. Osinbajo – Babachir mocks Tinubu’s reason for choice of Shettima

By our reporter| Former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal on Thursday continued his opposition to the fielding of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election, insisting that the move will cause division in the party.

According to the former SGF, If political leadership is based on competence, Tinubu, with one degree in Business Administration could not have emerged as the APC presidential ticket ahead of Prof.  Yemi Osinbajo at the party’s convention last month.

The presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu on Sunday picked Kashim Shettima, former governor of Borno, as his running mate, a development that has threatened to derail the party’s plan for the election scheduled for next year.

Lawal, who earlier in the week released a lengthy and stinging statement describing Tinubu’s choice as ‘dead o arrival, continued his criticism of the ticket on Thursday during an interview with ARISE TV.

According to Lawal, the APC cannot say there are no competent Christians in the north that could have been chosen as running mate.

“First of all, nobody should aspire to be president of this country if he knows there will be religious dichotomy in the system,” he said.

“You will antagonise the Christian majority in this country. It’s a direct attack on them and even in your own zone, because when it comes to religion, Nigerians take religion first.

“Now, you jeoperdise the whole of the Christians in the north, in the south-south, in the south-east.

“If it is based on competence, Tinubu, who has one degree in business administration, cannot beat Professor Osinbajo. So, competence in what? Who examines this competence? Is it an exam?

“So, in any case, maybe given that Shettima is the most competent person from the north, which exam did he take?

“Islam preaches justice. Why can’t they see this? No Muslim would want to live in acrimonious relationship with his neighbour.

“See, me, B.D. Lawal, a Christian, APC chieftain, a friend of Bola Tinubu, how will I go to Adamawa and stay on the podium and say vote for Bola and his Muslim-Muslim ticket?”