Vice-President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that no more than six of the 19 northern governors supported President Bola Tinubu’s bid for the presidency during the 2023 election.
Shettima made the disclosure on Wednesday at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the ceremony where Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was turbaned as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.
While speaking at the event, the Vice-President reflected on the political challenges Tinubu faced before the 2023 election and urged politicians to avoid allowing electoral contests to permanently damage relationships.
He said political disagreements should be followed by reconciliation, stressing that political office and influence are temporary.
Shettima said Tinubu faced opposition from several quarters while pursuing the APC presidential ticket, including from some political actors in the northern part of the country.
He specifically identified former Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as two of those who supported Tinubu at the time.
“We have 19 states in the north. Out of these, only six actually believed and supported Tinubu,” Shettima said.
“Apart from former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger, seated here, and Malam AbdurRahman AbdulRazaq… to avoid controversy, I will stop naming the names of the other governors.”
“But the governors that were supporting President Tinubu in the north were not more than six. However, Tinubu refused to be deterred. He was able to cross the road.”
According to Shettima, Tinubu later reached out to northern governors who had not supported his presidential ambition after the 2023 election.
“After the 2023 election, President Tinubu hugged and forgave all other northern governors that did not support him. That is a mark of a good leader,” he said.
The Vice-President also used the occasion to urge politicians in Kwara to embrace reconciliation after party primaries, regardless of who eventually emerges as a candidate.
He said political leaders should approach public service with humility and remember that political positions are not permanent.
“Power is given by God to the people He so wishes and not because they are better than other people,” he said.
Speaking about the economy inherited by the Tinubu administration, Shettima said the government came into office with about $3.9 billion in its coffers and faced serious economic difficulties.
He said Tinubu chose to focus on addressing the challenges confronting the country rather than spending his time blaming the previous administration.
Shettima maintained that the administration has continued to pursue its economic reforms despite the difficulties associated with implementing them.
The event was attended by governors, political figures, traditional rulers and other dignitaries.
