Only Six of Nineteen Northern Governors supported Tinubu in 2023, Shettima reveals

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that no more than six of the 19 northern governors supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential ambition during the 2023 general election.

Shettima made the disclosure on Wednesday at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the turbaning of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of the Ilorin Emirate.

According to the Vice-President, the limited support Tinubu received from northern governors did not prevent him from pursuing his presidential ambition.

He said the 2023 presidential contest was characterised by intense political opposition and several obstacles, but Tinubu remained determined to contest and eventually won the election.

“You all know that we have 19 states in the North. Out of these, only six actually believed and supported Tinubu,” Shettima said.

He identified former Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and AbdulRazaq among those who supported Tinubu, adding that he would refrain from naming the other governors to avoid controversy.

“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,” the Vice-President said.

Shettima Urges Politicians to Reconcile After Primaries

Shettima said the experience of the 2023 election should serve as a lesson to politicians preparing for future elections, particularly on the need to separate political competition from personal relationships.

He urged politicians in Kwara State to reconcile following the APC primaries, regardless of who emerged victorious.

The Vice-President said political contests should not result in permanent divisions among former allies or political associates.

He cited Tinubu’s actions after the 2023 election as an example, saying the President reached out to northern governors who had not supported his presidential bid.

“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,” Shettima said.

‘Political Power Comes From God’

The Vice-President also urged politicians and public office holders to approach leadership with humility and remain conscious of the temporary nature of political power.

According to him, political office eventually comes to an end, and those who occupy positions of authority will return to ordinary life.

He said political power should not be interpreted as evidence that office holders were superior to other citizens.

“Power is given by God to the people He so wishes and not because they are better than other people,” he said.

Shettima Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

Shettima also defended the Tinubu administration’s approach to Nigeria’s economic challenges, saying the government chose to confront inherited problems rather than spend its time assigning blame.

He said the administration inherited approximately $3.9 billion in its coffers and faced a difficult economic environment upon assuming office.

According to him, Tinubu remained focused despite the challenges and instructed his economic team to proceed with its reform programme.

The Vice-President also said the President’s political approach had been influenced in part by former President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he described as a politician who could not easily be pressured during political negotiations.

AbdulRazaq Honoured as Sardauna of Ilorin

Shettima congratulated AbdulRazaq on his elevation to the Sardauna of the Ilorin Emirate, saying the honour would further strengthen the relationship between the governor’s family and the traditional institution.

He acknowledged the contributions of AbdulRazaq’s late father to the Ilorin Emirate and Nigeria, while commending the governor’s administration for its infrastructure projects and cooperation with federal government policies.

Earlier in the day, Shettima inaugurated the Kwara State Revenue House on Ahmadu Bello Way and a garment factory in Ilorin as part of his activities in the state.

The Matawali of Ilorin Emirate, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, described the Sardauna title as deserving and urged the governor to view the honour as an additional responsibility to deliver more benefits of democracy to the people.

The ceremony attracted several dignitaries, including Niger State Governor Umar Bago, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli.

Deputy governors from Sokoto, Anambra, Nasarawa, Delta, Ondo and Oyo states were also among those who attended the ceremony.

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