Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has disclosed his support for his former principal Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice of presidential running mate ahead of the 2023 polls.?
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Fashola, in an interview aired on Channels Television on Sunday, approved the choice of Kashim Shettima as running mate to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.?
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Speaking on Sunday, Fashola said religion should be put aside for competence when Nigerians elect their next set of leaders in 2023.?
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He insisted that people leading the debate against Tinubu’s candidacy should face real political and socio-economic issues and avoid religious sentiments.?
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“In my viewpoint, Asiwaju is the best person to drive that vehicle because I have worked with him at close quarters and I know his capability. I know his tenacity. And I think sometimes that we need to test some assumption and the opportunity to test this hypothesis is there,” Fashola, who served as Tinubu’s chief of staff when the latter was governor, said. ?
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“My stance about religion has been made known on different platforms. I think religion should leave the public space and go back to where it belongs – to the homes and the spiritual centers.?
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He argued that winning elections is about numbers and some decisions may appear unreasonable. He said Tinubu made his calculations based on what he thinks will favor him in the coming poll.?
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“Sometimes we should stop being afraid of fear itself. If this is real, the votes will show ultimately. Who cares really? We both drank water here and we didn’t ask who made the water. People want good schools and good healthcare. People want infrastructure. They want to be secured.?
