Amidst tensions surrounding president Tinubu’s stance on the interests of the northern region and Islam, Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the President Tinubu is neither anti-north nor anti-islam.
This was disclosed by Shettima during a courtesy visit by representatives of media practitioners from the northern part of the country at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the President has shown his non-bias in his appointments to key positions in Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The vice president in soliciting for support, urged Nigerians to cooperate with President Tinubu because he has the best interests of the nation at heart.
He reiterated that the President Tinubu’s administration has good intentions for the northern region, stressing that he has easily addressed the region’s concerns.
“President Tinubu means well for the North. Let us disabuse the minds of our people who have been misinformed that the President does not like the North.
“Who was instrumental in signing the North-West Development Commission bill into law, and who created the Ministry of Livestock Development.?
“It is this same President. He gave the approval for the launch of the RSPIC Initiative, a non kinetic approach to the crisis in the northwest region by building an entire ecosystem for victims of the crisis.
“I want to reiterate this fact, and I am saying it because I know the President’s disposition towards the north. He is a good and just man.
“He loves the north and is working for its transformation,” he said, and emphasised the need for the media to rally around the present administration.”
Speaking on the planned nationwide protest, Shettima recognized the right of citizens to protest, also acknowledging the potential of the demonstrations being hijacked.
“Today, if they say there will be a protest, it will amount to a lot of losses. Protest is the right of the people, but let it be known that historically, it has been hijacked by unscrupulous elements.
““I am appealing to you to unite and support the development of our region by this present government led by President Bola Tinubu.
“I am really soliciting your prayers and support for us at this time in the history of our country. This is not the time to protest.
“We in the north need to promote actions and ideals that are critical to the development of our country; we cannot allow things to degenerate.” He explained.
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