Vice-President Kashim Shettima has questioned whether African Democratic Congress presidential hopeful Atiku Abubakar possesses the capacity to unify the country, arguing that the former Vice-President has failed to build a political consensus within his home state of Adamawa.
Shettima raised these concerns during a campaign event held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, to drum up support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid. The Vice-President contrasted what he characterized as fractured opposition backing in Adamawa and Anambra states with the robust support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) enjoys in the South-West state.
According to Shettima, political actors in contemporary Nigeria cannot rely solely on social media visibility without establishing genuine grassroots footing. He noted that since the return of democratic governance in 1999, Atiku had failed to secure the alignment of any of Adamawa's past or present governors.
"Our political opponents can conduct political rallies on Facebook and on Instagram, but for somebody who cannot build a consensus at the home front, Atiku Abubakar is from Adamawa State. He has been unable to build a lead consensus, even in his own Adamawa State," Shettima stated.
He reeled off the names of former Adamawa chief executives—including Boni Haruna, Murtala Nyako, Bala James Ngilari, Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla, and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri—asserting that none of them were aligned with the opposition candidate. He also mentioned prominent political figures from the state such as Boss Mustapha, Babachir Lawal, and Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed as being outside Atiku's political camp.
What did Shettima say about Peter Obi?
Shifting his focus to Peter Obi, the Vice-President criticized the former Anambra governor over his recent public appearance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where he went to welcome Nigeria's U-17 women's football team, the Flamingos.
Shettima dismissed the gesture as clout-chasing, reiterating that aspiring to lead the country requires deep-rooted stakeholder backing rather than symbolic public outings. He further questioned Obi's domestic political standing in Anambra State, asking whether former governors Chris Ngige and Willie Obiano, alongside incumbent Governor Charles Soludo, were in alliance with him.
How was the reception in Ondo State?
In contrast to his assessment of the opposition, Shettima described the political atmosphere in Ondo State as a complete shutdown in favor of President Tinubu's administration. He highlighted endorsements from notable regional figures, including former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, prominent legal practitioner Olusola Oke, and members of the late former Governor Adebayo Adefarati's family.
"And for the people of Ondo, as we are talking, there is a universal elite consensus marking the president here in Ondo. Former Governor Olusegun Mimiko is firmly on board. The last opponent, very popular Olushola Oke SAN, is here in alignment with the president’s ambition," Shettima added.