Northern Elders challenge Shettima over Senate presidency comments.

The Northern Elders Forum chastised Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday for a speech attributed to him on the Senate President job.

During a meeting with certain members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the weekend, the Vice President justified the party’s decision to zone the country’s number three seat to the south.

Baba-Ahmed also advised against using religion as a basis for selecting Senate leadership.

“The nation has been made aware of comments made by His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the course of strengthening the cause for the election of leaders of the 10th Assembly, which the APC and government preferred,” the spokesperson added.

“A particularly noteworthy remark made by him is that, under the current regime, the worst, most inept Southern Christian is better than the most puritanical Northern Muslim for the Presidency of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“The suggestion that when it serves political interests, poor faith, and incompetence can be preferred to piety and competence sends damaging signals to a nation desperate for good leadership.”

“It is unfortunate that a statement of this nature comes from a Northern Muslim who has earned his respect over the course of his political career.”

“The suggestion that leaders’ piety could be sacrificed for political expediency offends a nation of Christians and Muslims who watch leaders swear by the Qur’an and the Bible to protect the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution.”