Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, has finally picked Sen. Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 polls.
Persecondnews reports that Tinubu made the announcement on Sunday in Kastina.
Tinubu had flown to Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s country home to pay Sallah homage to him and unveil his running mate.
Addressing newsmen on Sunday, the former Lagos Governor said:”Gentlemen you already had an announcement to replace Alhaji Kabir Masari, (place holder) as substantive running mate with Kashim Shettima ”
Asked if he had discussed it with him, Tinubu said:”I have disclosed it to you (newsmen).”
Tinubu was flanked by Kastina Gov. Bello Masari and other party chieftains including Sen. Adeola Olamilekan (Lagos West) and Sports Minister, Sunday Dare.
Shettima’s name is expected to be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Alhaji Kabir Masari, from Katsina State, as placeholder during the week.
He had reportedly worked for the emergence of Tinubu as the party’s primaries held in Abuja.
Persecondnews recalls that Shettima had served as Borno Central Senator and two-term Governor of the state from 2011 and 2019.
Born on Sept. 2, 1966 in Maiduguri to the family of Sir Kashim Ibrahim, he attended the University of Maiduguri and graduated with a B. Sc in Agricultural Economics in 1989.
He also obtained a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics in 1991 at the University of Ibadan and later took up lecturer job from 1991 to 1993.
In 1993, he moved into the banking sector and was employed by the now defunct Commercial Bank of Africa Limited as head of accounts unit at the bank’s office in Ikeja, according to Wikipedia.
In 1997, he crossed over to the African International Bank Limited as a Deputy Manager and rose to become a Manager in 2001.
In 2001, he moved to the Zenith Bank as head of its main branch in Maiduguri.
Watch: Tinubu announces Shettima as his running mate in Kastina
At Zenith Bank, he rose to Senior Manager/Branch Head; Assistant General Manager (AGM)/Zonal Head (North East) and Deputy General Manager/Zonal Head (North East) before he stepped out of the Zenith Bank as a General Manager in 2007 following his appointment as Commissioner for Finance in Borno State.
Shettima worked with the Commercial Bank of Africa as an Agricultural Economist at its Ikeja Office, Lagos State (1993-1997).
He then became a Deputy Manager, later Manager, at African International Bank Limited, Kaduna Branch (1997–2001), and was appointed Deputy Manager/Branch Head of Zenith Bank’s Maiduguri Office in 2001, becoming General Manager five years later.
In mid-2007, Shettima was appointed Commissioner, Borno State Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
Later he became Commissioner in the Ministries of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Education, Agriculture and later Health under his predecessor as Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff.
As Governor of Borno State, he has efficiently managed challenges arising from the Boko Haram insurgency which he inherited in 2011.
With the approval of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Army in 2013, his government formalised the establishment of youth volunteers called the Civilian Joint Task Force.
The volunteers have played very significant role in supporting the military in ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
He approved salaries, kits and patrol vehicles for the civilian JTF, while at the same time giving so much support to the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He led mobilisation of community-based intelligence gathering and the provision of hundreds of patrol vehicles and material logistics to the military in particular and to all other security agencies.
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