The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, visited the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

Tinubu who revealed this on his social media page said the meeting was to discuss issues of national interest.

At the meeting, Tinubu made it known that his choice of a Muslim running mate is not to spite the Christian community.

He noted that only competence can resolve the political and economic crises afflicting the country.

Therefore, his decision to choose former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate was based on competence and not religiosity.

“How will Nigeria develop? How do we banish hunger? How do we improve the insecurity and how do we eliminate killing one another, shedding of blood of innocent citizens, that is what we must take to the office and not our religion.

“When the shortlisted names came, I looked at the characters on the list, their background and everything and here is somebody (Kassim Shetimma) who is so brilliant, so committed, who, during the crisis in Borno protected Christians,” he said.

The APC presidential candidate added that he has always been a friend of the Christian community and he should be considered based on his track records, plans and agenda for developing Nigeria.

“My intention is clear, not religiosity. My intention is to develop this country, to bring prosperity to our country and I have better qualification, better track records, better exposure, better vision than any of my mates,” Tinubu said.

While responding, the bishops said Tinubu’s visitation is not an affirmation that the APC candidates have been endorsed.

Chairman of Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria, Archbishop John Praise, said, “We are not committed to endorsing anybody, but you should ask your conscience and from what you have heard and from the explanation, he (Tinubu) had given to us to make your own judgement of who will better rule and handle the country.”

Recall that Northern APC Christian leaders led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, have continued to publicly express their disapproval to Tinubu’s decision to choose a Muslim running mate from the North.

Lawal described the decision as a “demonic plot” to eliminate Northern Christians from power.

Lawal and his group has since vowed to work against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

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