•Shettima and Tinubu
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Salihu Isa Nataro, has called on the Vice President Kashim Shettima to consider resigning from office in response to doubts about his relevance to the administration, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment.
Nataro, who was a gubernatorial contender in Kebbi State, disclosed that even before the confusion that broke out in Gombe State regarding the position of the APC on who should serve as President Tinubu’s running mate in 2027, it was apparent that the vice president had lost the president’s confidence, reports The Guardian.
He advised Shettima to notify the president of his decision to quit, remarking that the vice president’s exit should not be based on hard feelings, but as a gesture of goodwill and support for the ultimate success of the Renewed Hope Agenda and stability of Nigeria’s democracy.
He stated: “I have seen APC party officials fighting to strengthen the party before the next elections, especially in Gombe, where the discussion was about the best running mate to President Tinubu.
“My attitude to that is that the ball is now on Senator Shettima’s court. If he is grateful for what Tinubu did for him by picking him up as running mate in 2022 and leaving out those who worked for the party, I can boldly say that if I were in Shettima’s shoes, I would resign from office.
“I will come out with a very inspiring letter to the APC National Chairman stating that I will not run with Tinubu in 2027, but that I am prepared with my good people in North-East to campaign massively for Tinubu to win in 2027.”
Nataro said he admires Shettima for the able way he helped President Tinubu to move the administration forward, adding that if Shettima can have the courage to toe that path, President Tinubu will have no option but to reject the resignation.
“On the other hand, the resignation could afford the president the opportunity to change Nigeria’s political landscape by looking for a running mate from Southern Nigeria to give the international community the impression that Nigeria is one entity.
“At the same time, Nigerian youths will automatically change their perception about Tinubu and start seeing the president as a hero of democracy who is always looking out for performance rather than the political interests of some unscrupulous politicians,” he added.
Nataro, who is also a public sector reform advocate, noted that if Shettima steps out to serve as the Coordinator of President Tinubu’s second term campaign and gives him unalloyed support, “even God will honour Shettima beyond measure.”
He recalled how Tinubu surprised party leaders by selecting Shettima as his running mate without extensive party consultation, pointing out that the president maintains his credentials as a true democrat who wants the best for Nigeria.
In response to the challenge for APC to ensure the success of the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nataro disclosed that he has been insistent that the party’s future rests on the successful implementation of the agenda.
“That is why I have been reaching out to critical agencies of the administration with proposals on how to make things work, including a reduction in the cost of governance, cost-effective project execution and appropriate personnel management.
“The FCT, being manned by Nyesom Wike has crucial roles to play, especially in the area of land allocation for small-scale industries, so also are the Finance Ministry, Central Bank and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
“These agencies constitute the frontline drivers of the Renewed Hope Agenda. I hope they will reason with those submissions and recommendations,” Nataro stated.
