The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong as the Director General of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation for next year’s election.
The National Chairman of the Party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, made the announcement on Thursday, after a meeting behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Senator Adamu was accompanied by the Presidential Candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima, and Governor Simon Lalong.
The party chairman also announced the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, as the interim spokesman of the organisation and Hannatu Musawa as the deputy spokesperson.
Responding to questions from State House Reporters on how the party arrived at the choice of Lalong as the campaign DG, Senator Adamu said the APC settled for Lalong because of his “ability” to deliver.
According to him, “We are here to see Mr. President to brief him and to get his approvals of plans that we are having regarding our campaign outfit.
“And once we have his approval, we intend to make major disclosure. We’re on the same page with the Presidential and the individuals who will play various roles in the campaign.
“The DG of the campaign is seated by my right here. Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State.
“We have a spokesperson in the person of Festus Kenyamo. The deputy spokesperson is Hannatu Musawa. This is what we came to discuss with the President.”
Speaking more about the choice of Lalong, Adamu said: “He has the ability to do it. The party leadership has seen that he is capable of running the affairs of the campaign outfit,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the APC Chairman has described the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket as a “positive development” for the country’s politics.
He also declared that the dust raised by the same faith ticket will be settled before next year’s election.
According to him, “Yes, we have been hearing concerns being expressed. In the APC, we believe very strongly, that no matter what description, no matter what faith you will associate with any one of our candidates, we are first and foremost Nigerians.
“There is no doubt in the fact that we have people who stock trade on some of these religious issues. Just like you have people expressing fears, or concerns about a Muslim-Muslim ticket, there are Christians that welcome it as a positive development, in Nigerian politics. They are Nigerians,” he said.
He added that the party recognizes the concerns and will “put them to rest” before the election which is seven months away.
“We are extremely sensitive to some of these sensitivities of fellow Nigerians or fellow members of our party. But the fact of the matter is, one issue does not determine a candidate or determine victory.
“The party has taken a very careful deep look at the Nigerian situation and the political space. And we believe very strongly that notwithstanding the expression that we’re hearing, we will be working on amicable solutions to the sentiment and we’re very sure by the grace of God we’ll put them to rest before the elections,” he said.
On his part, the Vice-Presidential Candidate, Shettima, claimed that the same-faith arguments are machinations of a petrified opposition.
Citing the Ribadu-Bafarawa presidential ticket of the Action Congress of Nigerian in the 2011 general elections, Shettima urged Nigerians to focus on issues and not the faith of the candidates.
According to him, “In 2011, the presidential candidate and the vice-presidential candidate of the ACN. Both of them were Muslims. Nobody raised an eyebrow. Now, the opposition have seen a winning combination and they are petrified, deep down to the marrow of their bones.
“We will not trade in insults, lies and mischief. We have established a track record of excellence. Let our opponents show what they have done in their respective states. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s discuss issues.
“How to propel this nation to greatness is much more important than playing on the sentiments of Nigerians. Poverty knows no religion or ethnicity. Insecurity knows no religion or ethnicity.”
Lalong on his part argued that the party chose him because of his ability and not as a “Christian candidate.”
According to him, “I’m not a Christian candidate. I was not nominated as a Christian candidate. The party said I’ve been nominated because of my ability. I’ve been a very loyal member of the party. I joined APC because I believe in APC.
“Second, I’m not only the Governor of Plateau, I’m chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum. So I am able to carry out leadership in any capacity. I only want to express to you that I am surprised that I’m being announced now. I am sure we’ll not disappoint you.”
