Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in the North-East have described the renomination of Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 general election as a reward for his loyalty, commitment, capacity, and hard work in office.
The stakeholders stated this on Sunday during the North-East Grand Youth Celebration organized in support of Shettima’s renomination as Tinubu’s running mate, held in Bauchi.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the BAT/KSM Progressive Alliance, Abubakar Zaid, represented by the alliance’s National Secretary, Shettima Umar, said the vice president had demonstrated unwavering loyalty and competence since assuming office.
According to him, the gathering was organized to celebrate leadership, loyalty, and the continuity of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This gathering is deliberate, timely, and important. We are here to celebrate leadership, loyalty, and victory together. We are specifically here in support of and in honor of the renomination of our leader and mentor, Senator Kashim Shettima. It is not by chance; it is a reward for loyalty, capacity, commitment, and hard work,” he said.
He noted that Shettima had remained a dependable pillar of support to President Tinubu, adding that the vice president had coordinated several key government reforms.
“The Vice President has been a pillar of support to Mr. President. He has coordinated key reforms under his office, chaired the National Economic Council, championed programs for education, micro, small, and medium enterprises, and food security, and ensured that the North-East remains carried along in major government policies,” he added.
Zaid commended APC supporters, particularly youths, for remaining steadfast since the 2023 general election.
“You have mobilized, organized, and sensitized communities and defended the mandate. Without the youth, there is no strong political structure and no victory. The celebration is for you because your commitment has kept the party united,” he said.
He assured young supporters that the alliance would continue to create opportunities for training, empowerment, and engagement with government.
Addressing women and party elders, Zaid described them as critical to the party’s mobilization efforts.
“You are the backbone of mobilization. Women reach places where others cannot. Elders provide guidance and experience, while the youth supply energy. Together, we will achieve victory in 2027,” he stated.
Also speaking, the personal assistant on domestic and North-East affairs in the Office of the Vice President, Mahmud Muhammad, said Shettima’s selection as Tinubu’s running mate in 2023 was based on competence, loyalty, and his understanding of governance.
“His selection was not for decoration. It was rooted in trust, competence, loyalty, and the need for a partner who understands governance, security, economic management, and national unity,” Muhammad said.
He said the Vice President had played a key role as Chairman of the National Economic Council by coordinating economic planning, food security initiatives, infrastructure development, and sub-national reforms.
According to him, although the Tinubu administration inherited significant economic challenges, difficult decisions such as the removal of the fuel subsidy were necessary to rebuild the country’s economy.
“The reforms came with pain, but leadership requires the courage to repair what is broken. Today, the foundations of the economy are becoming stronger through investments in infrastructure, security, social development, and human capital,” he said.
Muhammad urged young people in the North-East to reject violence, hate speech, political thuggery, and drug abuse and instead embrace education, technology, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and active civic participation.
“We are not just political supporters; we are builders of a new Nigeria. Our support must go beyond celebrations to promoting peace, voter education, community service, and responsible citizenship,” he said.
In his remarks, the Bauchi State Chairman of the APC, Muhammad Tilde, said the party had made significant progress in addressing Nigeria’s security and economic challenges.
“When the APC came into power, insecurity dominated national headlines, with bomb explosions and loss of lives reported almost daily. By the grace of God, substantial progress has been made, and we believe more solutions will continue to emerge,” Tilde said.
