Vice President Kashim Shettima has described political opponents as partners in nation-building, warning against what he called a “devilish narrative” and “dubious aspersion” against President Bola Tinubu. Shettima spoke on Monday, October 19, in Abuja at an event tagged ‘An Evening with the Original City Boy’, where he defended Tinubu’s…...
Vice President Kashim Shettima has described political opponents as partners in nation-building, warning against what he called a “devilish narrative” and “dubious aspersion” against President Bola Tinubu.
Shettima spoke on Monday, October 19, in Abuja at an event tagged ‘An Evening with the Original City Boy’, where he defended Tinubu’s political relationship with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The Vice President said Tinubu and Atiku had known each other for years and shared a political history that should encourage mutual respect despite their current differences.
“Our political opponents are not our enemies, they are our co-travellers in nation building,” Shettima said.
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“But we won’t turn our other cheek as they’re trying to weave a devilish narrative and dubious aspersion against our principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.
Shettima said Tinubu and Atiku were both mentored by the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, stressing that their longstanding relationship should not be overlooked in the current political climate.
“President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar have come a long way. Both of them were mentored by the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua,” he said.
The Vice President also recalled Tinubu’s past political support for northern leaders, citing the 2003 presidential election, when he said Tinubu provided the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) for Nuhu Ribadu to contest for the presidency.
Shettima further recalled that Atiku sought political refuge with Tinubu after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.
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“Again, in 2007, when Vice President Atiku Abubakar was harassed, intimidated, dehumanised and chased out of the PDP, he sought refuge in the land of the Bourdillon, who provided him with a platform to contest for the presidency of this country,” he said.
He also credited Tinubu with helping former President Muhammadu Buhari secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket and eventually win the presidency.
“Without the support of Bola Tinubu, our brother late Muhammadu Buhari wouldn’t have emerged as the APC presidential candidate,” Shettima said.
According to him, Buhari’s earlier presidential bids in 2003, 2007 and 2011 were unsuccessful until the political alliance between Tinubu and Buhari brought together support from across the country.
“It was that partnership, that handshake and partnership across the Niger that President Bola Tinubu masterminded that had Muhammadu Buhari elected as president of this country,” he said.
Shettima said his concern with Atiku’s current political posture was that it failed to reflect the longstanding relationship between the former vice president and Tinubu.
“This is the problem I have with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. This gentleman seated here, Bola Tinubu, is his friend, contemporary and brother who deserves to be treated with respect and dignity,” he said.