Tinubu not discriminating against North, says Shettima

Gbajabiamila leads FG’s delegation to console VP over loss of in-law 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Tinubu has good intention for the growth of Northern Nigeria, as against insinuations that he plans to cripple the region.
 

 
Shettima made the remark, yesterday, while receiving a Federal Government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on a condolence visit to him over the demise of his mother-in-law, Maryam Albishir, in Kano State.
 
The VP, who said that the President never worked against the North, noted that Tinubu, to show serious concern with what is happening in the region, appointed the two Ministers of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC) from the North.
 
He said, “At the appropriate time, we will lay out facts that the President is not against the North as being championed by some disgruntled elements, who always want to cause disaffection between government and the citizens. So, anybody who begins to lay out lies that the President is against the North, tell him he is lying.”
 
Also, the VP urged Nigerians to rally round the President to make the country great.
 
“This is not a game of apportioning blame, but a game of making Nigeria work, and if Nigeria works, Africa works. We have moved beyond politics; we are now in the act of governance. We must be seen doing what will help us all,” he added.
 
On the political party differences and how the Kano government stood by him as he lost his mother-in-law, Shettima hinted that the government’s action showed that what bound Nigerians together is much greater than what divides them.
 
He stated: “Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) are all one family, and Nigeria is greater than all of us. Political party affiliation should not be a yardstick to show disaffection and create means of destruction for the wellbeing of the people.
 
“I remember, many of those who are in NNPP are founding members of APC and PDP. This tells you that we are one big family. So, we must work together to make Nigeria great, and together we will make it.”
  
On arrival in Kano, the delegation was received by the Governor, Abba Yusuf.
 

 
The team included Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Transport, Sa’idu Alkali; Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo; Special Adviser on General Duties, Aliyu Moddibo and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North West), Abdullahi Yakasai.
 
Delivering the President’s condolence message, Gbajabiamila said the administration felt saddened about the passing of Shettima’s mother-in-law, the basis upon which Tinubu sent his deepest sympathy and prayers.
 
He stated: “The President has sent us to commiserate with you and your family. He sends his best wishes, his prayers, his thoughts to you and your wife and the entire family of the deceased. He has asked that we convey to you his deepest sympathy and his prayers that the Almighty Allah grant our mother Aljannah Firdaus and forgive her sins.
 
“It is indeed saddening that she died. We commiserate with you on behalf of the President, his cabinet, and the Federal Government of Nigeria.”