Veteran journalist and former presidential aide Dr. Reuben Abati has called on President Bola Tinubu to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate ahead of the 2027 general election, urging the president to remain consistent with his earlier political choice.
Abati made the call on Tuesday while speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television. He defended recent comments by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, on the possible political consequences of changing the Vice President, describing her remarks as neither offensive nor inappropriate.
According to Abati, Musawa was right to note that altering the presidential ticket could have serious political implications in the North, particularly among Kanuri and Hausa-Fulani voters. He stressed that such considerations are critical in Nigeria’s electoral calculations.
He argued that Nigeria’s political decisions should be shaped by Nigerians and not influenced by foreign political figures, insisting that President Tinubu must show courage by standing firmly by his earlier decision.
Abati said Musawa merely highlighted the potential consequences of changing the ticket, especially in a region he described as politically sophisticated, adding that her comments were misinterpreted by some within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He further criticized attempts to downplay the Tinubu-Shettima Muslim-Muslim ticket, noting that the president had defended the choice in 2023 and should do the same in 2027.
Abati also dismissed suggestions linking Nigeria’s political choices to external actors, insisting that figures like former US President Donald Trump have no role in determining Nigeria’s democratic decisions.
