President Bola Tinubu and VP Kashim Shettima
The Office of the Vice President has clarified recent remarks by Vice President Kashim Shettima on the role of northern governors in President Bola Tinubu’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general election.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said his comments were misunderstood and required clarification.
According to the statement, Shettima’s reference to six northern governors was strictly about the political consultations and alignments that took place before the APC presidential primary held in June 2022.
> “The Vice President’s 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 statement stressed that the Vice President was not commenting on the position of northern APC governors after Tinubu emerged as the party’s presidential candidate. It added that he did not intend to question their support during the 2023 presidential election.
> “It 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.”
The Vice President’s office noted that after the APC primary, northern governors united behind Tinubu and played significant roles in the campaign that led to his victory in the 2023 presidential election.
It further stated that Shettima holds the northern governors and other APC leaders in high regard, acknowledging both their individual and collective contributions to the party’s success.
> “VP Shettima holds the northern governors and other leaders of the APC in high regard and recognises their individual and collective contributions to the success of the party and the emergence of President Tinubu.”
The statement also said the Vice President regretted any misunderstanding arising from his earlier remarks and expressed hope that the clarification would put the comments in their proper perspective.
> “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.”
Shettima also commended the Nigerian media for its professional engagement with his office and urged journalists to continue reporting public statements accurately, especially as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of another election cycle.
> “VP 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.”
