Vice-President Kashim Shettima has revealed that some individuals allegedly attempted to sow discord between him and President Bola Tinubu barely three months after they assumed office in 2023.
Shettima disclosed this during the public presentation of My Life of Duty and Allegiance, the autobiography of former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, held in Abuja.
According to the Vice-President, the unnamed individuals, whom he described as people from his home state of Borno, allegedly told Tinubu that he was plotting to assassinate him and take over power.
Shettima explained that the allegation was connected to some traditional clothes he had gifted the President before the 2023 presidential election.
Recounting the incident, he said Tinubu invited him for a discussion after hearing the claims.
“Three months into our swearing in, some people told Tinubu I was planning to kill him to take over power,” Shettima stated.
He further quoted the President as saying, “Sit down! Your people came to me and said, ‘Stop wearing those Shettima’s clothes.’”
According to Shettima, Tinubu dismissed the allegation because it lacked logic and context.
“The President said their story did not add up. He said when you gave me those clothes, I was an aspirant. I would not have been the candidate, neither were you going to be Vice-Presidential candidate,” he added.
The Vice-President said some persons later returned after the election to repeat the claims, alleging he intended to use the clothes for spiritual harm.
“Some people told him after election that I was planning to use the clothes to kill him and take over. However, Tinubu wore the clothes after that because he is not fetish,” Shettima said.
He warned against divisive politics, misinformation, and attempts to create suspicion among political leaders and citizens.
Shettima urged Nigerians to promote unity, mutual trust, and peaceful coexistence, stressing that the country would make progress only when citizens reject what he described as “merchants of division.”
