< Gingin Favors Politics Free of Bitterness Tunde Rahman, President Bola Tinubu's senior special assistant, has emphasized that politics should be without acrimony. His statement comes after Tinubu met with Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), at the National Mosque. The meeting, attended by representatives from both parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP, was arranged by Ali Modu Sheriff and Abdullahi Ganduje. Senator Ali Ndume was also present at the gathering. Rahman, on social media, shared his thoughts on the encounter, saying, "President Tinubu meets former Vice President Atiku, his rival in the last presidential election. Politics should be devoid of bitterness." Meanwhile, former Minister of Communications and a veteran of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Adebayo Shittu, expressed his disappointment with President Tinubu's recent cabinet reshuffle, labeling it as uninspiring and impressionistic. On Channels Television's "Politics Today" program, Shittu shared his discontent, stating that the adjustments seem to prioritize political expediency over the infusion of expertise in the cabinet. He explained, "If you examine the changes made yesterday, I question whether it truly brings in superior minds or better thinkers for governance, performance, and expectations. In my view, it's just a case of Nigerians being asked to step aside, with others being brought in, not necessarily meaning the former are inferior to the newcomers." Shittu's concerns echoed the sentiments of many who believe that the shake-up was a mere demonstration of tokenism to appease disgruntled citizens. He stressed the importance of a thorough screening process for ministerial nominees, citing his own experience as an engineer and lawyer. A cabinet shake-up, he believes, should be more about suitability, merit, and aptitude, rather than mere political favoritism. He emphasized that Nigerians have little patience for trial-and-error ministers and, therefore, require a rigorous screening process to ensure that only the most qualified individuals take on key positions.
“Nurturing a united political atmosphere, the presidency urges positive engagement in political discourse”
