Ex-Presidential Aide Urges Nigerians to Drop Religious Claims, See Tinubu–Shettima as Symbol of National Unity

|By Chinwendu Nwani

A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has urged Nigerians to stop framing the Tinubu–Shettima presidency as a Muslim/Muslim ticket, arguing instead that it represents a strategic partnership between the Yoruba and Kanuri ethnic groups.

Ahmad, writing on his verified X handle on Wednesday, challenged citizens to shun religious sentiment, warning that the rising tension and “reckless narratives” around the presidency threaten national cohesion.

He reminded Nigerians that neither President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima nor the APC campaigned on religious grounds in 2023, stressing that they “did not weaponise faith for political gain.”

Expressing concern about the country’s political climate, the former aide urged those dissatisfied with the current administration to wait for the 2027 polls and channel their grievances through the ballot rather than inflaming division.

Ahmad said he expected the Tinubu–Shettima ticket to be recognised as a Yoruba–Kanuri alliance, a reflection of national diversity. He lamented that political actors now downplay this identity simply because it does not align with their “agenda.”

“If we genuinely care about this country, our politics must be guided by truth, not reckless narratives crafted to inflame sentiment. Nigeria deserves better,” he wrote.