Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has revealed his plans for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, following his defeat at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).
Bola Tinubu was declared the rightful winner of the 2023 electoral process.
The tribunal, while ruling on whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was right to return Tinubu as the duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast, held that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar did not successfully prove his petition seeking to remove Tinubu from office.
The petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, was also struck out by the tribunal.
Speaking to journalists after the PEPT judgement, Shettima mocked Atiku, saying they would not retire him to Dubia or Morocco but a place where he would be rearing animals
The VP also acknowledged Atiku as an elder statesman whom he greatly respects because of his experience.
He further apologised to those he offended during and after the campaign, adding politics is a game of the smart, not emotions.
He said, “Atiku Abubakar is an elder statesman whom I hold in very high esteem. Anyone who knows the social-cultural interaction between the Kauris and Fulanis in the North will know that I have the liberty to call for something, and I will get it. We are not going to retire him to Dubai or Morocco. I will retire him to Kombina, I will buy him goats and broilers and layers so that he can spend his days rearing goats and broilers.
He is an elder statesman, I respect so much because experience is not something you can buy in the market. Politics is over, and governance has begun. For those I have offended with my utterance, it is politics is a game of the smart, not emotions.”
Responding, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, asserted that the only lasting impact of Kashim Shettima’s tenure was the transformation of Borno State from ‘the Home of Peace’ to a state of turmoil.
Atiku made this statement through his special assistant on Public Communications, Mr. Phrank Shaibu.
Atiku stated that Shettima’s performance as governor and chief security officer of Borno State was a dismal failure.
The statement pointed out the irony that Shettima, who held one of the poorest governance records in Nigerian history and was unable to uplift the people of Borno State from poverty, was contemplating investing in Atiku.
It added, “He (Shettima) loves to crack lackluster jokes at every given opportunity. Last year, he said Vice-President Osinbajo should have been an ice cream man instead of a politician. Later on, he said Nigeria needed a leader like Sani Abacha.
“As part of his circus act, he visited the annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in an oversize suit, a pair of sneakers and a poorly knotted tie. Shettima needs to decide if he wants to be a statesman or Baba Sala of blessed memory .
His behaviour is certainly unbefitting for a man who currently holds the exalted office of Vice-President, even if temporarily.”
Shaibu noted that Shettima’s customary approach was to criticize others, given his lack of substantial accomplishments to highlight about himself or his superior, Bola Tinubu. Shaibu pointed out that Tinubu’s three months in office had only exacerbated poverty and inflation.
He reminded that Shettima initially served as commissioner for finance and subsequently assumed the role of governor of Borno State. Shaibu further mentioned that Shettima’s appointment into government, particularly coming from the banking sector, had raised high hopes and expectations.
“During his tenure as governor between 2011 and 2019, Borno State was taken over by terrorists completely. He ignored a security report about an impending attack on Chibok which ultimately led to the abduction of over 250 schoolgirls.
“Specifically, the head of WAEC’s National Office in Nigeria, Charles Eguridu, stated in 2014 that WAEC had informed Shettima about the danger of holding exams in Chibok and advised that the students be relocated to Maidguri which was relatively safer. Shettima refused to relocate the students and they were abducted, half of whom have not been seen again till today.
“Even though he left government four years ago, the millions of residents of Borno State have yet to recover from the mistake called Shettima. Rather than be penitent, he continues to move about like a clown, making unsolicited dry jokes about others.”
Shaibu advised the Vice-President to stick to praying to God for forgiveness for thwarting the destiny of the millions of people of Borno State.
“We advise Kashim Shettima to spend the remainder of his days praying to God everyday for forgiveness for destroying the lives of the millions of people of Borno State rather than making dry and insipid jokes at those who have actually bettered the lives of people.
“His lack of sophistication is eroding the elegance of the Office of the Vice-President. Men of honour have held that position in the past and Shettima should learn from the examples they led in public decency. In any case, he would do well by attending a finishing school on Atiku’s scholarship and learn how to behave like a polished statesman,” Shaibu said.
