Presidency: Shettima Did Not Criticize Tinubu Over Fubara’s Suspension

The Presidency has strongly denied that Vice President Kashim Shettima used the platform of a recent book launch to criticize President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. The clarification comes after various media reports suggested that Shettima subtly condemned the President’s intervention in the political crisis rocking Rivers State. The statement, released by the VP’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, described the interpretations as misleading and politically motivated.

According to Nkwocha, the Vice President’s comments during the launch of former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke’s book were purely reflective and historical. Shettima recounted his experience as the then-Governor of Borno State during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, when there were calls for his removal, and how Adoke defended constitutional governance. The Presidency emphasized that Shettima’s speech was a tribute to Adoke’s legal courage and not a reference to any current political actions involving Governor Fubara.

Reaffirming the unity within the administration, the Presidency stressed that Vice President Shettima stands firmly with President Tinubu and supports all lawful decisions taken to preserve stability in the country. It warned against attempts by political actors and commentators to misrepresent government officials' statements in a bid to create division or stir unnecessary controversy.