Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday, revealed that only six of the 19 northern governors actually supported President Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid in the 2023 general elections.
Shettima disclosed this at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the turbanning of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.
Shettima said the tension that heralded the 2023 presidential campaign and the election proper was so glaring that it could only take a determined politician with a strong heart to continue pursuing his ambition.
He claimed that many clogs were cast on Tinubu’s path to frustrate his focus.
VP Shettima said, “You all know that we have 19 states in the North; out of these, only six actually believed and supported Tinubu. But Tinubu refused to be deterred. He was able to cross the road.
“Then, the slogan was: “Baba bayan sushi” (Buhari said he didn’t like him). Even with all this, Tinubu went ahead with his ambition, just like former President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari would call your bluff and send you away once you try to arm-twist him in any political negotiation.”
Shettima, however, urged Nigerian politicians not to see politics as a game-of-death but to always reconcile after contests, saying, “After the 2023 elections, President Tinubu hugged and forgave all other Northern governors that did not support him. That is a mark of a good leader.”
The vice president further urged Kwara politicians to close ranks after the All Progressives Congress primaries, urging them to emulate Tinubu’s large heart in any political purpose.
Shettima had earlier inaugurated the Kwara State Revenue House and the garment factory, both in Ilorin, the state capital.
