Vice President Kashim Shettima has vehemently refuted recent online reports suggesting he covertly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s handling of the Rivers State political crisis.
He denounced these insinuations as “deliberate misrepresentation” and “intellectual dishonesty,” designed to create artificial divisions within the Presidency.
In a strong rebuttal issued by his office on Friday, Shettima expressed deep concern over what he termed a calculated distortion of comments he made during the public presentation of ‘OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block,’ a memoir by former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
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“Certain individuals and platforms have stripped the Vice President’s remarks of their context to push a false narrative,” the statement read. “This is not only misleading but also a calculated attempt to fabricate a non-existent conflict within the administration.”
During his speech, Shettima had recounted his experience as Borno State Governor amidst the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency, where the Jonathan administration allegedly considered his removal.
He emphasized that this anecdote was meant to honor Adoke’s integrity during a turbulent period in Nigeria’s democracy.
However, some media outlets interpreted this historical account as a subtle criticism of the Tinubu administration’s recent intervention in Rivers State, particularly the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“The Vice President was not referring to Governor Fubara’s suspension or any current political matter. Any attempt to link his remarks to Rivers State is grossly inaccurate and mischief-laden,” the statement clarified.
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According to the Vice President’s Office, President Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers State adhered to the constitutional processes outlined in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which addresses threats to peace and order.
The statement stressed that the suspension of state officials does not equate to removal from office, rendering any comparison with Shettima’s experience under former President Jonathan “a distortion driven by mischief or ignorance.”
Shettima reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to President Tinubu, reiterating that his remarks were “neither critical nor political, but reflective,” and delivered in the spirit of accountability and historical context.
The statement added, “He spoke extemporaneously, and always within the bounds of loyalty and respect for the President and the government he serves,” urging the media to report responsibly.
The Vice President also called on political actors and commentators to “refrain from weaponising innocuous public remarks” to incite friction within the administration, warning that such actions derail the national focus on governance.
“This administration will not be distracted by deliberate mischief. The focus remains on delivering good governance and upholding democratic principles,” he added.
This isn’t the first time such rumors have surfaced. In September 2024, similar online chatter about a “cold war” between Tinubu and Shettima was dismissed by the Vice President’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, as “mendacious propaganda.”
Nkwocha had then affirmed Shettima’s complete confidence and trust from President Tinubu since their inauguration, stating, “In the history of Nigeria’s Presidency, no vice president has enjoyed the total confidence and full support of his principal like Shettima.”
He further described Shettima as a rare political figure whose commitment exemplifies a “refreshing shift towards harmonious collaboration” in Nigeria’s often-rivalrous political landscape.
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