Shettima Clarifies Comment On 6 Northern Governors Who Supported Tinubu In 2023

Vice President Kashim Shettima has offered a clarification regarding his earlier remarks about Northern Governors who backed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prior to his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.

Shettima had made the initial statement at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the turbaning ceremony of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.

Setting the record straight in an official statement released on Thursday, the Vice President explained that his reference to six northern governors who believed in and supported President Tinubu was specifically about political consultations and alignments preceding the APC presidential primary in June 2022.

The official position was conveyed via a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President).

According to the clarification, the comment was not a comment on the position of northern APC governors following President Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s candidate, nor was it intended to question their support during the 2023 presidential election.

Nkwocha emphasized that after the primary election concluded, APC governors across the North unified behind Tinubu and served as vital pillars during the nationwide campaign that delivered victory in the 2023 general election.

The spokesperson highlighted that Shettima maintains immense respect for northern governors and APC leaders, fully appreciating their individual and collective roles in strengthening the party and securing the presidency.

The Vice President regrets any interpretation of his remarks that may have suggested otherwise and hopes this clarification places the comments in their proper context, Nkwocha noted.

He added, Shettima also appreciates the Nigerian media for its longstanding professionalism and constructive engagement with his office and urges continued accuracy and context in the reporting of public remarks as the country approaches another political season.