VP Shettima Clarifies Ilorin Comment: “Non  Support For Tinubu By Northern Govs Was Before APC  Presidential Primary”

By Ayodele Oni

Vice President Kassim Shettima has clarified his remarks concerning the support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu received from northern governors in the build-up to his emergence as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, office of the Vice President, explained that 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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“The Vice President regrets any interpretation of his remarks that may have suggested otherwise and hopes this clarification places the comments in their proper context.

“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.”

Report had quoted Shettima as saying “No fewer than 13 governors from the region refused to support Tinubu, then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying inspite of the decision of the governors no to support his presidential bid, Tinubu still went ahead to forgive the after winning the election, noting that the president has displayed that he has a large heart.

The vice president spoke on Wednesday during thee turbaning of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate by the Emir of  Ilorin,  Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, at his palace in the state capital.