The Office of the Vice President has observed with deep concern the deliberate misrepresentation of remarks made by His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, during the public presentation of the book “OPL 245 The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block” by Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN, held at the Yar’Adua Centre Abuja on Thursday July 10 2025.
Some media reports have irresponsibly twisted the Vice President’s historical reflection on the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan particularly how it once considered removing him from office as Governor of Borno State during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency. These comments have been wrongly linked to the recent constitutional actions taken in Rivers State.
Specifically the sensational narratives attempt to draw an unfounded connection between Vice President Shettima’s remarks and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara following the declaration of a state of emergency by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. This interpretation is wholly inaccurate and misleading.
Vice President Shettima’s comments were made within the intellectual and historical context of praising the professionalism of the former Attorney General during a difficult constitutional moment. The remarks referenced past events and were part of a broader conversation on Nigeria’s constitutional evolution and the resilience of democratic institutions not commentary on current political developments.
To be absolutely clear President Tinubu did not remove Governor Fubara from office. What occurred was a constitutional suspension taken in accordance with the law and in response to escalating instability in Rivers State. This was at a time when the State Assembly complex was under demolition and the governor faced an imminent impeachment threat.
This scenario is in no way comparable to the insurgency era dynamics in the North East during the Jonathan administration when violent nonstate actors directly challenged the sovereignty of the Nigerian state.
President Tinubu acted fully within the constitutional framework consulting widely and invoking the appropriate legal provisions to safeguard governance and peace. In particular Section 3051c of the 1999 Constitution empowers the President to declare a state of emergency in cases of severe public disorder. The descent into political chaos in Rivers State met that threshold.
In accordance with Section 3052 and 3053 the President’s action was presented to and overwhelmingly ratified by both chambers of the National Assembly reflecting broad bipartisan consensus on the necessity of intervention.
It is therefore either a willful misreading or a lack of constitutional understanding to portray Vice President Shettima’s remarks as criticism of current government actions. His speech centred on the importance of public accountability and documenting the decisions of public officeholders. The references made were illustrative and historical in nature.
To misconstrue these academic reflections as political criticism is not only unfair but risks endangering national unity. This administration remains firmly aligned in its commitment to constitutional order and democratic stability.
Vice President Shettima stands fully with President Tinubu in executing the difficult yet essential decisions needed to safeguard our democracy.
We urge media practitioners and political commentators to desist from manufacturing conflict where none exists. Nigeria’s democracy is better served by truth responsibility and informed engagement.