Shettima clarifies comment on 6 Northern governors supporting Tinubu

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has clarified his comment concerning the support of Northern Governors for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the build-up to his emergence as the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shettima spoke at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the turbaning of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.

Meanwhile, in a statement clarifying his position on Thursday, the Vice President said his 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.”

The Vice President’s position was contained in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media and Communications in the office of the Vice President.

According to the Vice President,” 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.”

He said 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.”

Nkwocha said 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.”

“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,” he said.