The vice-president-elect, Kashim Shettima, said his emergence as the running mate to the president-elect, Bola Tinubu was born of necessity.
Mr Shettima, who spoke at the inauguration lecture in Abuja on Saturday, also allayed fears of a possible Islamization of the country by the Tinubu administration.
In the buildup to the February 25 presidential election, the nomination of Mr Shettima, a Muslim, as the running mate to Mr Tinubu, also a Muslim, sparked widespread criticism across the country.
But speaking on the issue for the umpteenth time, the former governor of Borno State said it is impossible for Mr Tinubu, who has not Islamized his family, to do so for the country.
He also disclosed that he deliberately picked an Igbo man, who is a Catholic, as his chief security officer and a northern Christian as his aide-de-camp.
“I was a child of necessity, there is no Islamization agenda. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Muslim who is married to a Christian, not only a Christian but a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God,” he said.
“Someone who has not Islamized his family, people are alluding that he has the intention to Islamize the nation.
“Politics is about perception. As we begin the formation of a new administration, I deliberately picked an Igbo man, a Catholic, to be my chief security officer.
“For the purpose of inclusivity and togetherness, again I deliberately picked a northern Christian to be my ADC. So the so-called founder of Boko Haram is going to be protected by….”
Speaking further, Mr Shettima, who currently represents Borno Central, said Mr Tinubu administration understands the seriousness of the work ahead, adding they were ready to serve Nigerians.
“We are to serve. We are to listen. We are here to be held accountable. We are not sent on an evangelical mission. Therefore, like every mortal, we may stumble here and there. None of these mistakes could be intentional.
“We shall never be oblivious of the impermanence of this power and we acknowledge that we shall be judged by man and God,” he said.
