Yan Nigeria
The Federal Government has dismissed claims of a rift between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, insisting that both leaders remain united and continue to work “perfectly” together.
Speculation has swirled in recent weeks over an alleged fallout between the President and his deputy, with rumours suggesting that Tinubu may consider a different running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
But addressing the matter during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Wednesday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the rumours as the product of public imagination.
He said, “This feud exists in the imagination of the people who want to believe that. I’ve been in the room where the President and the Vice President walked in close quarters… I’m talking about recently.”
On whether the President was considering dropping Shettima for the next election, the minister pushed back firmly.
He stated, “Who told you that? When President Tinubu got the ticket the first time, did you hear Shettima’s name early? The choice of a running mate is the prerogative of the president.
“He has chosen Kashim Shettima. They are working perfectly together. I’ve not seen any indication that the President is desirous of dropping his vice president.”
APC North-East Endorsement Stirred Political Waters
The controversy was ignited after the North-East leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Mustapha Salihu, publicly endorsed President Tinubu’s 2027 ambition, without mentioning Vice President Shettima in the process.
The omission reportedly prompted Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum to lead a protest over the perceived slight to Shettima, who hails from the region.
Adding fuel to the rumour mill, there were unconfirmed reports that Shettima had once been denied access to the President at the Villa, a claim the government now firmly rejects.
Idris, in his reaction to the report, said, “Not see the President in this country? “This is not an Atiku-Obasanjo scenario. We have a Tinubu-Shettima relationship. They’ve come a long way and are working well.”
The Minister further pointed out that Vice President Shettima continues to represent the President at official engagements and enjoys the full confidence of his principal.
He added, “Only yesterday, he was representing the President at the banquet hall. Every day of the week, you see the Vice President speaking on behalf of the President.
“Has Vice President Kashim Shettima ever told you that he has a problem with the President?”
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