Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Akeredolu Backs Tinubu, Says Buck Stops On President’s Table

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday, called on Nigerians to vote for competence in the 2023 Presidential election, adding that religious faith of the Vice President doesn’t affect performance in any government.

The governor’s comment is a veiled reference to Bola Tinubu APC presidential candidate’s pick of Kassim Shetima, a fellow Muslim as his running mate.

The issue has polarized the country, with a slew of APC chieftains resigning from the party in protest.

Governor Akeredolu, however expressed confidence that the Tinubu will rescue the nation, as the buck will  stop on his table when he becomes President.

Akeredolu made the comment during the swearing in of two new commissioners, in Akure , the state capital.

“Muslim-Muslim Ticket has nothing to do with performance. Let’s vote for someone that can do something,” he said.

“The work stops on the table of the President. It is the President that you are voting for. He decides what happens.

“Whether it’s a Muslim/Muslim or Christian/Christian, it should not matter to us in the South because we fought for this.

“I have no doubt that given the opportunity, from what he has done in Lagos, Asiwaju Tinubu will turn things around for the better,” Akeredolu said.

The new commissioners are Sowore Akinwumi Samson and  Ologbese Adeboboye Joseph.

He charged the new appointees to shun distractions from members of their families, friends and political associates.

Governor Akeredolu said he was excited to have personalities imbued with the requisite capacity for the advancement of the cause of good governance.

He stressed that his administration will always be bold to demand commitment and loyalty which must be absolute, adding that his administration commenced a political journey on the path of rectitude, urging the new commissioners to remain loyal.

According to him, “As we coast towards fulfilling our promise of redemption, we shall not condone any acts which give the faintest hint of disloyalty and dishonesty.

“We have always placed the people at the centre of all activities. We shall not depart from this path of honour. Our resolve to protect the lives and property of those who gave us the mandate to serve was tested in a most horrific manner recently.

“Some cowards sent a message in acknowledgement of our role as a major catalyst in the renewed and determined quest to deepen the current democratic experiment in the country.

“Our stance has attracted considerable approbation among our countrymen and women, who appreciate the need for reasoned and ceaseless interventions in our bid to situate the current democratic practice within the acceptable norms in the modern world.

“We are not unaware of the enormous threat which our stance poses against the hegemonic agenda of some elements. Though shaken by the scope of the horrendous crime, we remain unbowed and focused.”

The Governor said he is more determined to stamp out the roots of evil,  planted by those whose design is to create confusion among  the people of the state.

Akeredolu assured that the collective resolve of the people will defeat perfidy ultimately.

“We are encouraged by the ceaseless stream of evocations  and approval of our modest inputs to protect lives and property in the discharge of our immediate mandate in Ondo State.

“But also, and more importantly, messages delivered by organisations, coupled with the actual visits and donations by prominent and revered patriots in solidarity with the government of Ondo State and, especially, the Olowo-in-Council and the people of Owo Kingdom on the horrendous crime committed in the ancient Kingdom against the people.

“We equally express profound gratitude for the condolence messages received from foreign missions, the Federal and State Governments, numerous individuals within the country and from across the globe.

“We are grateful indeed that all of us shunned partisanship and stood against barbarism.

“We are determined to stamp out the roots of evil, planted by those whose design is to create confusion among the various groups of our people. The signs are ominous but our collective resolve will defeat perfidy, ultimately,” he said.