Opinion

(OPINION):Those Who Mocked Shettima’s Attire At NBA Conference Deserve Our Sincere Sympathy

Published

2 years ago

Aug 31, 2022.

A.A.S Opeyemi

It was the former First Lady of the United States of America, Eleanor Roosevelt, who said, “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.”

EDITOR’S PICK:

No doubt, the above position of the US First Lady aptly gave credence to comments that resolved around the appearance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice Presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima’s at the Nigerian Bar Association’s conference in Lagos.

The former governor of Borno who with other presidential candidates of political parties on Monday (date) has received enough received harsh criticism, particularly on social media, for attending the NBA event while sporting a long, bulky three-button coat, turn-up baggy trouser, a long red tie that was seen below the belly, and a pair of gym sneakers. Many attendees of the corporate level conference of high power bureaucrats found this to be a pretty big turn-off.

Commentaries have focused on his attire rather than his speech, calm, or expert delivery of his understanding of Nigeria’s sociopolitical economy, for no other reason than a devilish and destructive sense of smug delight.

Sorry to our esteemed journalist Bayo Onanuga, but the group of people who mocked Shettima’s clothing deserve our sympathy because they have little minds.

Aside from the fashion concerns, it was not generally noted how Shettima’s amazing speech wowed the audience. He addressed the multitude of issues the Nigerian nation was faced with facts, figures, and eloquence and proposed answers based on the unparalleled achievements he and Lagos state former Governor had made in their states.

Shettima’s speech was encouraging, inspiring, and empirical in addition to being motivational. It also touched on the concerns of ordinary Nigerians, particularly the economy and insecurity.

Shettima, a former governor of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria and the Vice Presidential Candidate for the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 election has successfully led the state despite the conflict he had with rebels and people’s adversaries who have troubled the state’s peace and serenity ever since.

Shettima accomplished a lot; he constructed roads, bridges, and cutting-edge primary and secondary schools. However, he could have accomplished even more had he presided over the state in an atmosphere of peace.

In keeping with the proverb that “No success is good without a worthy successor,” he also made sure that Professor Babagana Zulum would be a respectable successor for the state.

Shettima discussed the Lagos and Borno models at the NBA conference, where he was constantly on the ground offering leadership from the home front.

He also discussed the variety of problems plaguing this great country, presenting pertinent statistics that everyone can understand without having to “go and verify.”

They had no choice but to divert discerning Nigerians’ attention away from Shettima’s excellent speech and toward his attire, which doesn’t really matter in any case, because they knew how powerful he is and how profound his address at the conference rocked them to their very core.

Since they are aware of his erratic dressing and strong satorial tendencies, the conversation about his appearance focuses instead on the fact that he chose to wear sneakers with a suit.

According to Mallam Modibbo Kawu, the former general manager of the NBC, “By deflecting attention from Kashim Shettima’s extraordinarily insightful dissection of the contemporary realities of the Nigerian democracy, they actually wounded themselves in the foot.”

To their dismay, they have contributed to Nigerians’ ability to look past the surface, see through their deception, and develop a deeper respect for Kashim Shettima and his expert comprehension of the complex realities we face, the difficulties in overcoming them, and the necessary political shrewdness, experience, and knowledge to start proposing solutions.

Those who mocked Shettima’s attire deserve our sincere sympathy.

A.A.S OPEYEMI

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Opeyemi Writes From Igboora, Oyo State

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