The Presidency has defended Vice President Kashim Shettima’s speech, insisting it had nothing to do with the Rivers State political crisis. Many, however, see this as pure damage control after public reactions linked his remarks to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Presidency Defends Shettima’s Speech Amid Rivers State Fallout
The Presidency is now working hard to clear the air over Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent remarks in Abuja.
In a statement on Friday, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), called the media reports “gross misrepresentation” and warned that such reports could harm national unity.
Shettima had made the remarks during the launch of “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block,” a book by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, on Thursday.
Nkwocha explained that Shettima was only speaking about events during the Jonathan era when he faced removal as Borno State Governor.
Presidency Insists Shettima Was Misunderstood
According to Nkwocha, Shettima’s remarks were “historical references” and had no link to Rivers State.
“Some news outlets have irresponsibly twisted the Vice President’s account of how the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan floated the idea of removing him from office, then as governor of Borno State, in the most intense and critical phase of insurgency in the North East region of the country,” the statement said.
He stressed that Shettima was only praising Adoke’s role in that past issue, not commenting on the current Rivers State situation.
Presidency Backs Tinubu’s Rivers State Actions
Nkwocha went further to defend President Tinubu’s actions in Rivers State, saying Fubara was not removed but only suspended.
“For the avoidance of doubt, President Tinubu did not remove Governor Fubara from office. The constitutional action taken was suspension, and not outright removal,” Nkwocha stated.
He also said that the intervention was lawful under Section 305 of the Constitution, citing security threats and instability.
“The President’s proclamation properly invoked Section 305(2), which was subsequently ratified by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the National Assembly,” he explained.
Bottom Line
This defence from the Presidency comes across to many as full-scale damage control. The tone of the statement, its length, and its aggressive dismissal of media reports all suggest an administration eager to douse the growing controversy.
Even as the Presidency insists Shettima’s words were merely historical, some Nigerians are not convinced. The connection to Rivers State politics was too glaring for many to ignore.
