Kashim Shettima, the vice presidential candidate of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, has stated that the principal, Tinubu ballhealthier than he is, allaying concerns that the party’s presidential candidate is not healthy enough to govern the country.
Mr. Shettima said this last week on a Facebook Live program, Fashin Baki, hosted by public commentators, Bulama Bukarti, Nasir Zango, Abba Hikima, and Jaafar Jaafar.
The former Borno governor said he and Mr. Tinubu are the best choice for Nigerians in next month’s elections.
Mr Shettima said his record as a former governor showed that he was a credible candidate. Mr. Shettima ruled Borno State for eight years (2011 to 2019) while Mr. Tinubu ruled Lagos for eight years (1999 to 2007).
There are concerns among Nigerians about Mr. Tinubu’s health condition with many arguing that he regularly seeks medical treatment abroad, is incoherent with his speech, and sometimes has a shaky hand which some claim is a symptom of Parkinson’s.
But Mr Shettima said the principal was healthy enough to run Nigeria.
“Let me make it clear that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is healthy and well. Apart from politics, he is physically and mentally fit to be the president of Nigeria.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is even healthier than me because I have diabetes and hypertension, which I don’t have. Even the early Parkinson’s disease that people say is just lack of sleep,” Mr. Shettima, 56, said on a Hausa programme.
He said that the amount of work Mr. Tinubu has to do for the campaign is that people should get enough sleep, adding that if Mr. Tinubu, 70, gets enough sleep, he will be physically and mentally okay.
“Leadership is not like unskilled labor carrying bags of cement,” Mr. Shettima said. “It’s more of a mental work than a physical one.”
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He mentioned that former American Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Daniel Arap Moi of the US, Algeria, and Kenya respectively led their countries through economic prosperity while in wheelchairs.
“The most important thing is his record and intellectual faculty which I believe is enough voice to move Nigeria forward.”
The former governor of Borno also spoke about APC’s plans to revitalize Nigeria’s education, agriculture and youth development sectors.
On continuity in governance, he said they will continue with the legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari said the northern region is not sidelined from the development projects of the administration.
Tinubu is one of the 18 candidates seeking to replace Mr. Buhari as president when he finally completes his second term on May 29, 2023.
Among the 18, Mr. Tinubu and three others are considered the main contenders. The other three are Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labor Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP.
The presidential election will be held on February 25.
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