Gbajabiamila, who said Tinubu settled for “one of the best hands for the job of Nigeria’s Vice President,” described the former Governor of Lagos State as “the biggest talent hunter in the country.”
The Speaker said Shettima had over the years proven his mettle as a shrewd and progressive politician whose eight years as Governor of Borno State – from 2011 to 2019 – was a defining moment for the state.
This is according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, titled ‘Speaker Gbajabiamila Welcomes Shettima’s Choice as Tinubu’s Running Mate.’
Gbajabiamila said, “Asiwaju is widely known as the biggest talent hunter in the country who has over the years assembled an army of performers in governance irrespective of their ethnicity or religious leaning. This unique feature also can be found in Senator Shettima following his track record of excellence in both the private and public sectors.”
The Speaker noted that Shettima, as a foremost banker, has the right character and intellectual capacity to turn things around, hence having him as the Vice-President under a Tinubu presidency would be a masterstroke in the management of the economy.
Gbajabiamila said, “My first encounter with Shettima, who I had admired from afar, was many years ago when he and I travelled together with Asiwaju to the United Kingdom to address the issue of terrorism with the Britons and Nigerians in the diaspora.
“I was amazed by Shettima’s depth, ability, and capacity to engage Christian Amanpour, a journalist of international repute. He earned my respect – and I must say, that of his interviewer – even more ever since then.”
The Speaker also stated that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket “is a good combination that will lead to success at the polls for the APC.”
Gbajabiamila congratulated Tinubu for making “the wise decision,” noting that Nigerians yearned for such a great team. He called on Nigerians to support the Tinubu-Shettima ticket and other APC candidates for various elective offices during the 2023 elections.
