The Inside Story
President Bola Tinubu and his Vice, Alhaji Kashim Shettima have worked together harmoniously for the past 2 years. Many never believed that their relationship would have been this cordial.
City People gathered that it was as a result of the 2 gentlemen agreeing on how best to manage their working relationship.
From day one, President Tinubu reportedly told his Vice what is expected of him and his office. And what his responsibilities are. And the VP has kept to that ever since. He understands his boss very well.
And he knows the kind of person he is.
He has over the last 2 years maintained the Trust the President has in him.
What has made working with the President a lot easy for him is the fact that Shettima has lived for years in Lagos, where he worked in the banking sector so he is quite accustomed to his boss style.
He diligently does what he has been asked to do and he doesn’t step out of line.
Of course his harmonious relationship does not go down well with some people who would have prefered for both of them to have been having frictions so as to be able to exploit such a crack. So despite all the pressures mounted on him to create frictions between them, they refused.
City People gathered that there are some top politicians from the North who are desirous of creating problems between them.
And they are those who took advantage of the recent political issues in Borno when APC National Chairman, Danguje went to mobilise support for Tinubu’s 2nd term bid, but did not mention the name of Shettima.
Recently, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the party’s National Vice Chairman for the region, sparked controversy when he publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term but did not mention Vice President Kashim Shettima. This incident occurred during a meeting in Gombe State attended by many APC ministers, lawmakers, and governors from the North-East.
During the event, when Salihu took the podium, he supported Tinubu running unopposed in the next election, omitting Shettima’s name. This led to outrage among the attendees. Delegates began shouting insults and even threatening physical assault, prompting security personnel to escort him out.
To ease the tension, Deputy National Chairman Bukar Dalori offered a joint endorsement of both Tinubu and Shettima for a second term. However, the situation escalated further when APC National Chairman Ganduje, in his speech, also endorsed Tinubu without acknowledging Shettima, leading to his own escort out of the venue as well.
The APC has since come out to deny the rumours that Pres. Tinubu has no plans of running with Shettima come 2027.
Some APC Chieftians have also explained that the Tinubu administration is just 2 years in office and it is distractive focusing on who Pres. Tinubu’s running mate will be in 2025 for a race coming up in 2027.
They insist that all the noise about who the running mate will be is sponsored by those who want to derail the administration.
City People has been able to confirm that contrary to all the stories making the rounds, both Pres. Tinubu & Kashim Shettima enjoy a very cordial relationship.
Lets tell you about this easy going gentleman who is Pres. Tinubu’s VP. He was born on September 2, 1966, in Maiduguri, Borno State. He attended the University of Maiduguri and the University of Ibadan.
He served as governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019, addressing security challenges and garnering national attention.
He served as Senator for Borno Central from 2019 to 2023.
He assumed office on May 29, 2023, as VP supporting President Tinubu in policy formulation and implementation.
His responsibilities are as follows: presiding over the National Economic Council, Assisting the President in policy formulation and implementation, representing Nigeria in international forums when delegated,
His notable activities include:
participation in the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, addressed the inaugural North West Peace & Security Summit, condemning alleged plans by the Sokoto state government.
As Vice President, Shettima has focused on economic diversification and security matters, leveraging his experience as a former governor and senator to contribute to Nigeria’s development and stability.
Insiders say the speculation about President Bola Tinubu potentially dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election is the creation of some top Northern elites from the North-East who want to pre-empt Asiwaju from looking elsewhere. According to reports from various sources, if Tinubu is considering this move to boost his party’s strength in areas where support is fading there will be need for Regional Support, so Tinubu might choose to replace Shettima to gain support from Northern Christians and the North Central region, where the party faces resistance.
For Political Calculations. The decision is reportedly part of a plan to realign the party’s strategy ahead of the 2027 elections, echoing Tinubu’s past approach in Lagos.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed these rumors, calling them baseless and politically motivated distractions.
However, Shettima’s supporters are adamant that the APC wouldn’t survive in the North-East without him, chanting “No Shettima, no APC in the North-East” .
What sort of a man is Kashim Shettima? The current Vice President is a seasoned politician with a strong background in public service. He’s known for his dedication, resilience and commitment to national development. Here are some key aspects of his personality and character many don’t know.
He is an Experienced Leader. Shettima has held various leadership positions, including Governor of Borno State and Senator for Borno Central, showcasing his ability to govern and represent effectively.
He is Articulate and Diplomatic. He’s recognized for his articulate speeches and diplomatic approach to governance, helping to bridge divides and foster cooperation across party lines.
He is a man of Decisive Action: Shettima has demonstrated exceptional leadership acumen, particularly in addressing contentious issues and providing clarity where speculation and uncertainty previously existed.
He is committed to Development. As Vice President, he’s focused on economic diversification and security matters, leveraging his experience to contribute to Nigeria’s development and stability.
He has a Strong Work Ethic. Shettima’s rise to prominence in politics is a testament to his hard work, ambition and dedication to public service.
Overall, Shettima is a respected figure in politics, known for his leadership skills, diplomatic approach and commitment to national development.
