Vice President Kashim Shettima has apologised for a controversial comment he made while asking lawmakers to elect a Christian Senate President for the 10th National Assembly.
Ahead of Tuesday’s vote in the Senate, Shettima said, “Under the current dispensation, the worst incompetent Southern Christian is better than the most puritanical Northern Muslim for the Presidency of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The Vice President’s comment elicited harsh criticism from many Muslims, especially on social media.
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Recall that Abdulaziz Yari, a Northern Muslim, contested against Godswill Akpabio, a Southern Christian and anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the senate presidency but lost.
In a statement, Director of Information in the office of the Vice-President, Olusola Abiola said his boss’ remark was twisted out of context by mischief-makers.
“It would not be ill-advised for the lawmakers to choose a non-Muslim contestant, even if against a more qualified Muslim option, in order to achieve balance,” the presidential spokesman said.
But speaking with BBC Hausa, Shettima apologised for his controversial remark, saying his plea was from a place of love for Nigeria.
He added that as the son of Muslim scholars, he did not intend to discredit any religion in the country.
“I am human and imperfect, so I am asking for the forgiveness of the community and my God,” the Vice President said.
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