- Shettima lamented that such trust had diminished over time
- He said the outfits became part of Tinubu’s campaign appearance after positive feedback from aides
- the President told him that the allegation suggested the clothing had been used to influence him
Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed that shortly after President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, some individuals from Borno allegedly advised the President to stop wearing traditional outfits gifted to him during the campaign, claiming the garments had spiritual implications.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Shettima said Tinubu dismissed the allegation and deliberately continued wearing the attire for a week to demonstrate his rejection of the claim.
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The Vice President made the disclosure on Tuesday while speaking at the launch of the autobiography of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, titled My Life of Duty and Allegiance, in Abuja, where he represented the President.
According to Shettima, the incident reflected what he described as growing distrust and suspicion in Nigerian society.
He contrasted the situation with an account shared by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who recalled how his family regularly sent fura to Gowon during his time at Dodan Barracks in Lagos, noting that the former leader accepted the gesture without suspicion.
Shettima lamented that such trust had diminished over time.
Recounting the incident, the Vice President explained that during the 2023 presidential campaign, he arranged traditional Borno attire and a cap for Tinubu as the then-presidential aspirant toured northern states.
He said the outfits became part of Tinubu’s campaign appearance after positive feedback from aides.
However, after he returned from representing Nigeria at the Belt and Road Initiative Forum in Beijing in October 2023, Shettima said Tinubu informed him that some visitors had raised concerns over the attire.
According to him, the President told him that the allegation suggested the clothing had been used to influence him and that it could affect his safety.
Shettima said Tinubu rejected the claim on the grounds that it lacked logic, noting that the outfits were gifted before both men emerged as presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
He added that the President subsequently wore the outfits repeatedly for a week to publicly dismiss the allegations.
The Vice President described such developments as examples of political intrigues within power circles.
In his remarks, Shettima praised Gowon for promoting national unity, citing initiatives such as the National Youth Service Corps and his role in establishing Economic Community of West African States.
He urged Nigerians to resist divisive tendencies and work toward national cohesion.
The event attracted several dignitaries, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, Senate President Godswill Akpabio represented by Senator Ireti Kingibe, the President of the Court of Appeal Monica Dongban-Mensem, and other prominent personalities.
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