Vice President Kashim Shettima has taken a swipe at opposition figures aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 elections, doubting their leadership competence given their ongoing internal party squabbles.
Speaking on Wednesday, Shettima said the All Progressives Congress (APC) had maintained a broad national coalition under Tinubu’s leadership, despite predictions that the ruling party would disintegrate.
“Under President Tinubu, the APC has sustained a broad national coalition. Meanwhile, those offering to rescue Nigeria cannot keep their own political households intact,” he said.
Shettima challenged opposition leaders to demonstrate their capacity to manage Nigeria’s diverse interests, arguing that reconciling the ambitions of a few politicians was a far less demanding task than governing more than 200 million citizens.
“If reconciling a few party leaders defeats you, how will you reconcile the interests of over 200 million citizens?” he asked.
The Vice President also took aim at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his proposal for production subsidies, questioning its financial implications and consistency with his long-standing political and economic outlook.
Shettima described the current political season as “a masterclass in cinematic comedy”, arguing that political ambition should be matched by intellectual maturity, discipline and responsibility.
He questioned who would finance Atiku’s proposed subsidies, who would benefit from them and which other government priorities might lose funding as a result.
“Who pays? Who benefits? And which competing priorities must surrender their funding?” he asked.
“A change of ideological wardrobe cannot balance a national budget.”
Shettima said the pursuit of public office was not merely about the desire to gain power but also a test of character and responsibility.
“The higher the office a person seeks, the greater the discipline expected in his work,” he said.
The remarks come as political parties and potential contenders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, with the APC seeking to defend Tinubu’s administration against opposition criticism of its policies and performance.
What You Should Know
Vice President Kashim Shettima has publicly criticized opposition politicians, arguing that anyone who cannot successfully manage their own political party lacks the organizational capacity to lead a diverse nation of over 200 million people. He also questioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s proposed production subsidies, stating that changing ideological stances cannot balance the national budget.
- Positive Impact: Encourages greater scrutiny and accountability regarding the economic policies and manifestos presented by aspiring political leaders.
- Potential Concerns: Heightens political tensions and partisanship as political gladiators position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
