Vice-President Kashim Shettima has moved to clarify his controversial remarks about northern governors who supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that his comments referred specifically to political consultations ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in June 2022.
The clarification, contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice-President, came amid interpretations that Shettima’s remarks suggested some northern APC governors did not support Tinubu’s presidential bid.
The Vice-President’s office said that was not the intended meaning.
“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 said.
“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.”
Northern Governors Rallied Behind Tinubu, Shettima Says
According to the statement, northern APC governors rallied behind Tinubu after his emergence as the party’s presidential candidate and contributed to the campaign that culminated in his victory in the 2023 presidential election.
“Following the presidential primary, APC governors in the North rallied around the party’s candidate and played important roles in the campaign and electoral efforts that culminated in President Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 general election,” the statement said.
The Vice-President’s office further argued that the endorsement of Tinubu after the APC primary became a significant point of political alignment within the party.
“Indeed, it is worthy of note that it was after the declaration of President Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential primaries that all other governors across the country rallied round and followed suit,” it said.
“That declaration by the northern governors hence became the aligning moment across all political divides in the quest for power shift.”
Shettima Regrets ‘Any Interpretation’ Suggesting Otherwise
The Vice-President also sought to draw a line between the political alignments preceding the 2022 APC primary and the support Tinubu received after emerging as the party’s candidate.
The statement said Shettima “holds the northern governors and other leaders of the APC in high regard” and recognises their contributions to the party and Tinubu’s emergence.
“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,” it said.
The Vice-President “regrets any interpretation of his remarks that may have suggested otherwise,” the statement added.
Shettima’s office also appealed to the media for accuracy and context in reporting political statements as Nigeria approaches another election season.
“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,” the statement said.
