2023: How Kashim Shettima may become Nigeria’s next Vice President

2023: How Kashim Shettima may become Nigeria’s next Vice President

By: James Bwala

Since the return of former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu following his long stay in the UK to nurture himself for the next big political battle in the country, many people have visited him both in Lagos and Abuja. Parties and exchanged of ideas has been ongoing politically in the country, particularly with the mother APC and the choices it has to make putting so many considerations on the table.

On each occasion, when group of people including the Nicodemus visits the JAGABAN different stories emerged. The Yoruba councils are doing their own calculations and the councils from the northern part of the country are also putting heads together. Political gladiators and supporters were also not left behind. Journalists have been musing, so also are political analysts, who are trying to turn the crystal ball on all hopeful to see who the gods may anoint in the coming days, weeks or months.

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The situation was rejig by narratives about the choice APC is going to make to stand tall in the aftermath of the next battle, which is to have a substantive flag bearer for the next political dispensation in the country. The story that top political atmosphere within the APC fold was pointing to Tinubu as the candidate. Other school of thought believes it was a game to stage Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the APC candidate for 2023 general election.

Some politicians who claimed to have a bite on the recent meeting between Tinubu and Osinbajo in his (Tinubu) resident are drawing some conclusion between the two southwest most preferred political icons for the APC ahead of preparations for the next power shift. Some have gone to the extent of concluding that Tinubu is ready to tag along with any decision the Yoruba nation is going to take between him and Osinbajo if only to have Nigeria move from the north to the southwest by 2023.

While this was going on, I was keen and following unfolding situation and asking what is there for us in the northeast. Fillers from the much that was being discussed open up on our governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum and former governor and current Senator representing Borno Central in the red chambers. Talking about distinguish Senator Kashim Shettima. 

With much interest I have followed on the calculations, the Musing as well as the analysts to arrive at this conclusion. It was gathered that, former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC had been looking towards the northeast for his running met if the cloud prove to drop rain his side. 

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Tinubu and Kashim Shettima has been in good mood since they met at the table of fate when Shettima seeks his support and he was gladly given during the reign of the PDP. I will not delve further but since that time both politicians have enjoyed the give and take politics has to offer. Shettima has taking Tinubu as his political teacher and mentor while Tinubu pride himself for having a wise political son from the northeast.

His love for Kashim Shettima grew that he was said to have spoken about him on three occasions since he returned from London. But his problem is the idea in Nigeria about the Muslim, Muslim ticket. This was the problem and he (Tinubu) would have to look for solution to this if he wants Kashim Shettima by his side to run the affairs of this country.

On the other hand, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was being tip as the joker APC will be revealing in the march for acceptance, if the Tinubu thing did not work. The Vice President though did not shout it on roof top he was said to have been also looking towards the northeast. According to rumour making the round, Osinbajo was penciling on Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to be his running mate if given the chance and he would also need to ride on Tinubu’s political structure to get there and to be accepted.

So, the question is, where would Kashim Shettima be standing here? A relationship! Of course this works anywhere and counts especially in politics. The Mathematicians have always sought for the X and they always find the X. Now this is the case of the Y, the X a very difficult mathematics for many students but it also have a solution. And so, Kashim Shettima is both the Y and the X except otherwise a question of square roots come about and this code is broken.

Relationship would work out possibilities as the day’s draws by. Finding from the grapevines is suggesting that, Borno state governor, Babagana Umara Zulum had on several occasions spoken and body language indicated that he will continue to be grateful to Kashim Shettima for the opportunity to rise to greatness. If that was his mind, there are indications that he would speak for Kashim Shettima as well and adding his voice would make a difference. 

Whatever the end result would be, I see both Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima being positioned on a level that may favour them. It was Bola Ahmed Tinubu that worked for the rising of Osinbajo and it was Kashim Shettima that worked for the rising of Zulum. So it appears whether X is being the case or Y or XY if this stands as many had spoken; it is going to be a turn for Borno and with this ground It looks like former Borno state governor, Senator Kashim Shettima maybe on his way to fulfilling his ambition for the top assignment in his political career.

* James Bwala writes from Maiduguri

2023: How Kashim Shettima may become Nigeria’s next Vice President