Vice-President Kashim Shettima has revealed that only six of the 19 northern governors supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid during the 2023 general election.
Shettima made the disclosure on Wednesday at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the turbaning of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.
According to the Vice-President, Tinubu faced significant political opposition in the North during the 2023 presidential contest but remained determined to pursue his ambition.
“You all know that we have 19 states in the North. Out of these, only six actually believed and supported Tinubu,” Shettima said.
He identified former Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and AbdulRazaq among those who supported Tinubu, but declined to name the other governors, saying he wanted to avoid controversy.
Shettima said the opposition from several northern governors did not prevent Tinubu from continuing his campaign.
He described the 2023 contest as a lesson for politicians, urging them not to allow political disagreements to permanently damage relationships.
The Vice-President particularly appealed for reconciliation among politicians in Kwara State after the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, regardless of who emerges.
He said political competition should not turn former allies into permanent enemies.
Shettima cited Tinubu’s actions after the 2023 election as an example, saying the President reached out to northern governors who had not supported his presidential bid.
“After the 2023 election, President Tinubu hugged and forgave all other northern governors that did not support him. That is a mark of a good leader,” he said.
The Vice-President also urged politicians to exercise humility and remember that political office is temporary.
He said public officials would eventually leave office and return to ordinary life, adding that political power was ultimately given by God.
“Power is given by God to the people He so wishes and not because they are better than other people,” Shettima said.
On the economy, Shettima defended the Tinubu administration’s approach to the challenges it inherited, saying the government chose to confront the problems rather than focus on assigning blame.
He said the administration inherited about $3.9 billion in government coffers and faced difficult economic conditions when it assumed office.
According to him, Tinubu remained committed to implementing his economic reform agenda despite the challenges.
Shettima also linked Tinubu’s political approach to the style of former President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he described as a politician who could not be pressured into abandoning his position during negotiations.
The Vice-President commended the Emir of Ilorin for honouring AbdulRazaq with the Sardauna title, describing the recognition as one that would further strengthen the relationship between the governor’s family and the Ilorin Emirate.
He also acknowledged the contributions of AbdulRazaq’s late father to the emirate and the country, while commending the governor’s administration for its infrastructure projects and cooperation with federal policies.
Earlier, Shettima inaugurated the Kwara State Revenue House on Ahmadu Bello Way and a garment factory in Ilorin as part of his activities in the state.
The Matawali of Ilorin Emirate, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, described the Sardauna title as well deserved and urged the governor to see the honour as an additional responsibility to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of Kwara State.
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Niger State Governor Umar Bago, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli.
Deputy governors from Sokoto, Anambra, Nasarawa, Delta, Ondo and Oyo states were also present.
