2023 Politics: How Senator Kashim Shettima is winning PDP strong horses for Tinubu

By: James Bwala

There are indications that front runners in the People Democratic Party, PDP are being won over to All Progressive Congress, APC courtesy of strategic moves by former governor of Borno state, Senator Kashim Shettima. This move was not only in Borno state, northeast or the north but also in the southern regions of Nigeria. The Senator is said to be making impact owing to his relationship and acceptability by major players in the opposition making him the onion that is smoothening the 2023 arrangements in battle fronts for Tinubu.

Ahead of the race, it was reported that there was a meeting of both APC and PDP governors in Lagos. This perhaps coincided ahead of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s return from London where he was also said to have gone to meet with Nigerians supporting his ambition to rule the country in 2023. The meeting which was said to hold in secret also had in attendance former governors and political stronghold holders in the PDP. 

NEWSng reports that some Nigerians have observed that it was the first time such a meeting was held and stressing it was being held for a Tinubu arrangement. Others argued it has been the tradition in Nigeria’s political space. However, with Captains of industries and people like Dangote and Otedola alledgedly in attendance, it suffice to say that the political pendulum may be pointing to one direction and the man keeps smiling since he declared his ambition. 

“These are also people who are known to have supported the emergence of successive governments. Whether they are doing so for their business empires or for Nigeria, this has remained the same in the past and now. I have been following the political trend since Tinubu’s declaration and the recent speech by the former governor of Borno state and current Senator for Borno Central. 

“I have that speech and it is still available for those who care to read carefully and study unfolding political events in the country. I have read that speech time and again and I can tell you that Mr. Shettima is doing a lot in changing the political game in the country for Tinubu. Infact, for me, he is the real game changer and he earned my respect.” Mohammed Umar, a lawyer who spoke with NEWSng at the launching of the Book on Hadizatu Mustapha ‘ From Head Girls to Supreme Court’ said.

Speaking of the Lagos meeting, questions like why Lagos? Why now and for who are these gods of politics in Nigeria gathering for? These have come to the table of political discussion amongst Nigerians political prognosticators. In trying to peep into how Nigerians reacts to several questions regarding the said meeting, NEWSng gathered that for the governor of Borno state and Senator Representing Borno Central at the National Assembly, Senator Kashim Shettima, the Clairvoyants held that 2023 may just open a chapter on the rise and rise of a Dogmatic Sketch from the northeast region.

Bitrus Dodo, a lecturer from Kaduna Polytechnic agrees that Senator Kashim has been in the centre of Nigeria’s political game more than history has recorded since the return of democracy in 1999. “He has also been said to have helped in the party’s reconciliation moves as well as winning the shakers in the opposition party.” Dodo observed. 

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The Book launch in honour of one of Borno’s daughters brought in many Nigerians dutiful in making pronouncements that steer, discuss and direct the path shaping the country’s democracy. Again Senator Shettima was open to the public like the pages that describe an ‘Iroko’ tree in Achibe’s book. This came from the Attorney General from Ekiti state. When he was making the position of the government and people of Ekiti state known about their relationship with the former Borno state governor, there was a kind of perfume of desire from his careful choice of words to describe the embarrassing love Shettima enjoys from the people of Ekiti state.  That powerful speech also put Kashim Shettima in the account of a golden fish in Nigeria’s political water. 

“No wonder, he is being sought out for ideas and directions.” One of the guests at the occasion commented. “I am also beginning to shift ground to study this Borno man.” He supplemented.

Perhaps this may be a pinch on how far and wide Kashim Shettima has spread his tentacles on political platforms across the country. As a think tank and arrowhead in Tinubu’s team for 2023. Shettima is tactically positioned to take a role that will inspire growth and development of Nigeria when finally Asiwaju is declared winner by numbers as President Buhari’s successor. 

“There is one battle to fight on February 26, 2022 in sha Allah. We are praying for a grand style outing. The incorruptible President, Muhammadu Buhari is going to ensure ‘adalci’ for all contestants. But I can tell you that in these few days to the APC convention the stars are green and the rainbows are high. The call is on one man. From all indications, one does not need to be told who the most popular candidate is. ” Adamu Mohammed, a Tinubu support group member told NEWSng in Abuja

Speaking further on the alleged Lagos meeting, Aliyu Bakolori, an APC stalwart observed that:  “Well, nothing is impossible. Those who saw the meeting and body languages of the attendees of that meeting in Lagos know that a lot is cooking ahead of the 2023 general election. For me, this that brings politicians from the opposition to table with the ruling side is a matter of the common good.  It is therefore not wrong to say that the gods have already blessed the former governor of Lagos State and Leader of the All Progressive Party, APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

“Borno’s Kashim Shettima may not have been meeting with PDP’s strongman in Kano for a tea party at the Murtala International Airport in Lagos just to discuss matters in Borno and the factions in APC Kano while he is in PDP. It must have been a parable of the toad at a noonday in the Igbo proverbs, which according to that proverb does not come out for nothing. 

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“Long before now, it was rumoured that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwaso had or is making the move to return home to APC but some of his supporters dismissed that, however, not with the wave of a hand meaning that there is more to this than a question of studying the political clouds in the country. That meeting however, may have just revealed the hand that is pulling the Big Masquerades back home. I believe this, and hopefully that Kwankwaso may play a great role in drawing many of his followers for Tinubu in Kano if this pulling succeeded.” Bakolori recollected.

It was also gathered that, while Tinubu jets out to consolidate on his ambition, in the home front and especially in the northern part of the country, Senator Kashim Shettima has been preaching the Tinubu gospel and making sense of it. As a result of his friendship and persuasive speech he was reportedly said to have won both the Ganduje and Shekarau’s factions for Tinubu in Kano. 

“Adding the “Kwankwasiya” group means taking Kano for Tinubu. The interesting story about the 2023 Presidential election is that the northerners are buying into the “Adalchi” move to support the party’s readiness to shift power to the south. ” Umar Said, a political analyst said

NEWSng reports that with the moves in political space, political observers have said that Tinubu may have already won some states in the north before the election in 2023. 

“Well, some people may ask how? Again, this is the storyline. Borno and Yobe states are already swinging to one direction. Of course if Kano followed that direction, it would be said the same for Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi.” Umar revealed.

2023 Politics: How Senator Kashim Shettima is winning PDP strong horses for Tinubu