A 200-level Political Science student of Al-Qalam University, Katsina, Mohammed Yakubu, has organised a seven-day prayer session for the retention of Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 general election.
The prayers, which ended on Friday, were held at Maranta Sheikh Abba Abu, Kofar Kwaya, Katsina, and featured mostly young clerics, Yakubu disclosed in a statement.
“Shettima has been my role model and seeing how he has helped His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, in running the affairs of our great country, they all deserve our prayers,” the 18-year-old said.
Yakubu explained that his decision to convene the prayers was inspired by the vice president’s “leadership style and contributions to youth and farmers.”
“Having studied what His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima’s leadership styles, especially in building us, the youth and farmers like my father, to thrive—informed my decision to call for Islamic clerics who are mostly youth like me to pray for his success politically,” he said.
He further urged young people across the country to pray for national leaders instead of criticising them.
“I want to call on our youth to engage in praying for our leaders, especially now that the insecurity is bedevilling some parts of the country. We should desist from saying negative words or cursing them,” he added.
Yakubu also appealed to government at all levels to “redouble their efforts in tackling insecurity.”
The prayer session came amid speculations within the All Progressives Congress (APC) over Shettima’s fate on the 2027 presidential ticket of the party. While party leaders have dismissed the claims, the issue continues to generate debate among loyalists.
President Tinubu, however, appeared to downplay the rumours earlier in the week when he celebrated Shettima on his 59th birthday anniversary, describing him as a loyal partner.
“Your dedication reassures me that I did not make a mistake in choosing you as my deputy,” the President said in a statement shared by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
