The Presidency today vehemently refuted claims that Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent statements were in any way critical of the political situation in Rivers State or President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s constitutional decisions regarding the matter.
In a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), the Presidency labeled the circulating reports a “gross misrepresentation.”
The statement clarified that Vice President Shettima’s comments, made at the public presentation of a book by former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), were taken out of context by some online platforms and individuals.
“These reports have distorted the Vice President’s comments in pursuit of a mischievous agenda,” the statement read.
It continued, “They twisted his account of how the administration of former President Jonathan considered removing him as Borno Governor during the insurgency to falsely link it with current events in Rivers State.”
According to the Presidency, the Vice President, who spoke at the launch of “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block” in Abuja on Thursday, merely referenced the past to commend Adoke’s professionalism while in office and to reflect on Nigeria’s constitutional evolution concerning federal and state relations.
Nkwocha further clarified the situation in Rivers State: “For the avoidance of doubt, President Tinubu did not remove Governor Fubara from office. The constitutional measure implemented was a suspension, not an outright removal. This action was taken in response to the grave political crisis in Rivers State at the time, with the Governor facing a looming impeachment and the State Assembly complex under demolition.”
The Presidency asserted that President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency and suspend the Governor was fully in line with Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which grants authority for such measures during a breakdown of public order requiring extraordinary intervention.
The statement highlighted that the President’s proclamation invoking Section 305(2) was subsequently ratified by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the National Assembly, underscoring the legitimacy and constitutional propriety of the decision.
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“The action of President Tinubu in suspending Mr. Fubara and others from exercising the functions of office averted the Governor’s outright removal. To conflate suspension with removal is misleading,” the statement further emphasized.
Nkwocha also stressed that Vice President Shettima’s comments were delivered extemporaneously, aimed at highlighting the importance of public accountability and historical documentation.
He noted that the Vice President’s mention of past public servants, including Adoke and former Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was intended to illustrate principled leadership.
“His remarks were not in any way a criticism of President Tinubu’s actions, which the Vice President and the entire administration fully support and stand by without reservation,” the spokesman affirmed.
The statement concluded by reiterating that the Vice President remains in “loyal concert” with President Tinubu and is committed to implementing all constitutional measures necessary to safeguard democracy and uphold order across the country.
The Presidency urged media organizations and political actors to “desist from the destructive practice of wrenching statements from context in order to fabricate nonexistent conflicts,” calling for an end to misrepresenting public remarks for sensational or partisan purposes.
