He made this statement while addressing the Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.  Tinubu informed the clerics of his plans and programs to improve the fortunes of Nigeria as well as mend fences across religious and ethnic lines. Shedding light on his plans, Tinubu said: “How will Nigeria develop? How do we banish hunger? How do we improve the insecurity and how do we eliminate killing one another and others, shedding the blood of innocent citizens, that is what we must take to the office and not our religion. “My intention is clear. Not in religiosity. I intend to develop this country, to bring prosperity to our country and I have better qualifications, better track records, better exposure, better vision than any of my mates.”

 The APC presidential candidate said he has always been a friend of the Christian community and should be considered based on his track records, plans, and agenda for developing Nigeria. He reaffirmed that his choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate was based on competence, capacity, and fairness. According to him: “When the shortlisted names came, I looked at the characters on the list, their background, and everything, and here is somebody (Kassim Shetimma) who is so brilliant, so committed, who, during the crisis in Bornu protected Christians. ”Chairman of Pentecostal Bishops Forum of Northern Nigeria Archbishop John Praise said: “We are not committed to endorsing anybody but you should ask your conscience and from what you have heard and from the explanation, he (Tinubu) had given to us to make your judgment of who will better rule and handle the country.” A female Christian leader and chieftain of the ruling party, Senator Grace Brent from Adamawa State, expressed optimism that the presidency of Tinubu will usher in a new dawn for the body of Christ in the country and northern Nigeria in particular.