By: Thedailytorchmedia
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Salihu Isa Nataro, has urged Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima to consider resigning from office, citing growing doubts about his relevance within the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Nataro, a former gubernatorial aspirant in Kebbi State, stated that even before the recent controversy in Gombe State over the APC’s stance on who should be Tinubu’s running mate in 2027, it was already evident that the Vice President no longer enjoyed the full confidence of the President.
He advised Shettima to notify the President of his decision to quit, remarking that the Vice President’s exit should not be based on hard feelings, but as a gesture of goodwill and support for the ultimate success of the Renewed Hope Agenda and stability of Nigeria’s democracy.
He stated, I have seen APC party officials fighting to strengthen the party before the next elections, especially in Gombe, where the discussion was about the best running mate to President Tinubu.
My attitude to that is that the ball is now on Senator Shettima’s court. If he is grateful for what Tinubu did to him by picking him up as running mate in 2022 and leaving out those who worked for the party, I can boldly say that if I were in Shettima’s shoes, I would resign from office.
I will come out with a very inspiring letter to the APC National Chairman stating that I will not run with Tinubu in 2027, but that I am prepared with my good people in North-East to campaign massively for Tinubu to win in 2027.
ataro said he admires Senator Shettima for the able way he helped President Tinubu to move the administration forward, adding that if Shettima can have the courage to toe that path, President Tinubu will have no option but to reject the resignation.
On the other hand, the resignation could afford the President the opportunity to change Nigeria’s political landscape by looking for a running mate from Southern Nigeria to give the international community the impression that Nigeria is one entity
Nataro, who is also a public sector reform advocate, noted that if Shettima steps out to serve as the Coordinator of President Tinubu’s second term campaign and gives him unalloyed support, “even God will honour Shettima beyond measure.
He recalled how Tinubu surprised party leaders by selecting Shettima as his running mate without extensive party consultation, pointing out that the President maintains his credentials as a true democrat who wants the best for Nigeria.
In response to the call for the APC to drive the success of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nataro emphasized that he has consistently maintained that the party’s future depends on the effective implementation of the agenda.
