Shettima Denies Criticising Tinubu, Says Remarks Misrepresented
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that Vice President Kashim Shettima has dismissed claims circulating online that suggest his recent public remarks were veiled criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s management of the Rivers State political crisis.
Shettima described such interpretations as deliberate misrepresentations aimed at creating discord within the administration.
In a statement issued by his office on Friday, the Vice President voiced concern over the distortion of his comments made during the public presentation of the book “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block,” authored by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke, held at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Thursday, 2025.
“Certain individuals and platforms have stripped the Vice President’s remarks of their context to push a false narrative,” the statement said. “This is not only misleading but also a calculated attempt to fabricate a non-existent conflict within the administration.”
At the event, Shettima had reflected on his time as Governor of Borno State during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, recalling how the administration of then-President Goodluck Jonathan considered removing him from office.
According to the statement, his remarks were intended as a tribute to Adoke’s professionalism and a broader historical reflection, rather than a commentary on contemporary political issues.
However, some online reports drew parallels between Shettima’s account and the recent developments in Rivers State, interpreting his comments as criticism of President Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“The Vice President was not referring to Governor Fubara’s suspension or the state of emergency declared in Rivers State. Such interpretations are grossly inaccurate,” the statement emphasised.
The statement further explained that President Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers State was a constitutional response to escalating political instability, in line with Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. It stressed that the suspension of officials was a legitimate effort to restore order, not a removal from office.
“Conflating suspension with removal, or drawing false equivalence with Shettima’s experience under Jonathan, is intellectually dishonest,” it added.
Shettima reaffirmed his full loyalty to President Tinubu and to the administration’s commitment to democratic order and constitutional governance.
His remarks, the statement noted, were made in a reflective tone, emphasising the importance of public accountability and the need to document service records, rather than questioning government policy.
“He spoke extemporaneously, and always within the bounds of loyalty and respect for the President and the government he serves,” it said.
The Vice President’s Office called on media organisations and political actors to refrain from spreading misinformation, urging responsible reporting and political maturity.
“This administration will not be distracted by deliberate mischief. The focus remains on delivering good governance and upholding democratic principles,” the statement concluded.
