Vice-President Kashim Shettima yesterday revealed how some individuals allegedly attempted to sow discord between him and President Bola Tinubu shortly after they assumed office in 2023.
Shettima disclosed that some persons warned Tinubu against wearing traditional outfits he gave him during the APC presidential campaign, claiming the garments were spiritually manipulated to kill the president and pave the way for him to take over power.
The vice-president spoke in Abuja during the public presentation of the autobiography of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.
Explaining how the clothes came about, Shettima said he sourced northern-style fabrics and caps for Tinubu during the APC presidential campaign so he could blend easily with supporters in the North.
According to him, the outfits suited the president well and members of Tinubu’s team later requested more of them.
He added, “When we were campaigning for him to emerge as the candidate of the APC, we were going round the north. So, I got some materials and caps for him to blend with the northern crowd. It fitted him very well. So his aides said, ‘produce more, it fitted him.’”
‘They Said I Charmed the Clothes’
Shettima said the situation changed barely three months after they were sworn into office, when some people from Borno allegedly approached the president with claims that the clothes were dangerous.
According to him, “Barely three months after we were sworn into office, some of my people from Borno came to him and said, ‘stop wearing those Shettima clothing. He must have charmed them. And you’re going to die. And he will become the president.’”
The vice-president commended Tinubu for refusing to believe the allegation.
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He said that after he returned from an official trip to China, where he represented the president, Tinubu informed him about the claims.
“And to the eternal credit of the president, when I came back from China, where I represented him, he said, ‘Sit down. Your people came to me and said I should stop wearing those garments you gave me,’ he said.
Shettima said Tinubu dismissed the allegation because the garments were given to him before he became president.
“But he said their story did not add up because when you gave those garments, I was an aspirant,” he said
Tinubu Wore the Clothes for One Week — Shettima
According to the vice-president, Tinubu deliberately continued wearing the outfits for about one week to prove he was not superstitious.
“For one week to prove to them that he is not fetish, he wore those garments. These are some of the gimmicks that are taking place in power circles in Nigeria nowadays,” he said.
Gowon trusted people despite religious differences
Shettima contrasted the current atmosphere of suspicion with the era of former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, saying leaders trusted one another more during that period.
He recalled that the family of the Sultan of Sokoto regularly sent gallons of “fura” to Dodan Barracks in Lagos and Gowon accepted the gifts without fear or suspicion despite religious differences.
Describing Gowon, Shettima said, “Here was a Christian son of the north, a child of the north-central, a soldier accepted across lines that others try too hard to harden into walls in Nigeria.
“His life proved that identity can be carried without hostility. History teaches us that the Nigerian project becomes stronger whenever citizens refuse to become weapons in the hands of sectarianism and division.”
Shettima praises Gowon’s role in African unity
Speaking further on Gowon’s legacy, the vice-president said the former Nigerian leader played a key role in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to him, “As one of the builders of regional cooperation in Africa, the formation of the Economic Community of West African States remains one of the great acts of political foresight on the continent.”
He said the organisation was founded on the belief that neighbouring countries must work together on security, diplomacy and economic growth.
“It was born out of the understanding that neighbouring nations must do more than exchange flags at ceremonies. They must pursue ideas of security cooperation, diplomatic confidence, and economic opportunity.”
The vice-president added that the vision behind ECOWAS remains important as West Africa continues to face insecurity and economic difficulties.
“We need cooperation against insecurity. We need faith that empowers young people. We need diplomacy that prevents conflict from becoming a contagion. We need a region where borders do not become barriers to prosperity,” he said.
Fresh Speculation Over 2027 Ticket
Shettima’s remarks have also revived discussions over alleged moves within the APC to sideline him ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In recent months, reports of attempts to replace the vice-president as President Tinubu’s running mate have circulated within political circles, especially following debates over the continuation of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
The speculation intensified after Shettima’s image was reportedly omitted from banners displayed during an APC North-East event in Maiduguri, fueling claims of internal power struggles within the ruling party.
However, the APC leadership dismissed the reports, insisting there was no plan to drop the vice-president from the 2027 ticket.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.