Shettima Reveals Alleged Plot to Sow Discord Between Him and Tinubu Over Campaign Attire

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has revealed that some individuals allegedly attempted to create distrust between him and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shortly after the administration assumed office, claiming that traditional outfits he gifted the president during the 2023 election campaign were spiritually manipulated.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the public presentation of the autobiography of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, Shettima recounted how the garments were originally introduced to help Tinubu connect more closely with northern voters during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign.

According to the vice-president, the president had appreciated the outfits and requested that more be produced after they resonated well with supporters across northern Nigeria.

Shettima, however, disclosed that barely three months after they were sworn into office, some individuals from his home state of Borno allegedly approached Tinubu and warned him against wearing the clothes, claiming they had been charmed with the intention of harming him and paving the way for Shettima to assume the presidency.

The vice-president praised Tinubu for dismissing the allegations, noting that the president questioned the logic behind the claims since the garments were given to him long before the election victory, at a time when he was still an aspirant seeking the APC ticket.

Shettima further stated that Tinubu deliberately continued wearing the outfits for about a week to demonstrate that he did not believe in the accusations or view the gifts as fetish objects.

Describing the incident as part of the “gimmicks” often associated with power politics in Nigeria, the vice-president lamented the growing atmosphere of suspicion within political circles.

Drawing a contrast with earlier periods in the country’s history, Shettima referenced the era of General Gowon’s leadership, saying there was a stronger sense of trust and national unity at the time.

He recalled that the family of the Sultan of Sokoto regularly sent gallons of “fura” to Dodan Barracks in Lagos during Gowon’s administration, and the then-head of state accepted the gifts without suspicion despite religious and ethnic differences.

Commending Gowon’s legacy, Shettima described the former military ruler as a “Christian son of the North” whose leadership transcended ethnic and religious divides.

“His life proved that identity can be carried without hostility,” the vice-president said, adding that Nigeria becomes stronger whenever citizens refuse to be used as instruments of division and sectarianism.

Shettima also praised Gowon’s contributions to regional integration in Africa, particularly his role in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States.

He described ECOWAS as one of the continent’s most visionary political achievements, founded on the principles of security cooperation, economic partnership, and diplomatic collaboration among West African nations.

According to him, the vision behind the regional bloc remains crucial as West Africa continues to confront insecurity, economic challenges, youth unemployment, and political instability.

“We need cooperation against insecurity. We need faith that empowers young people. We need diplomacy that prevents conflict from becoming a contagion,” Shettima said.