By Joy Yesufu
The Presidency has dismissed media reports suggesting that Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent comments at a book launch in Abuja were aimed at the political situation in Rivers State or linked to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a statement issued on Friday, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), described such claims as a “gross misrepresentation” and “reckless endangerment of national cohesion.”
Shettima had spoken at the public presentation of “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block,” a book authored by former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, held at the Yar’Adua Centre on Thursday.
According to Nkwocha, the Vice President merely referenced a past episode during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, when there were discussions about removing him as Governor of Borno State amid the Boko Haram insurgency.
He clarified that the remarks were made to highlight Adoke’s professional conduct during that time, not as commentary on current national affairs.
“Some news outlets have irresponsibly twisted the Vice President’s account of how the former administration floated the idea of removing him from office in the heat of insurgency,”
“The sensational reporting disappointingly attempted to link the narrative to the state of emergency declared in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Fubara by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”the statement read.
Nkwocha emphasised that Shettima’s remarks were purely historical and intended as part of an intellectual discussion on Nigeria’s constitutional development.
He also clarified that President Tinubu had not removed Governor Fubara, but had acted constitutionally to suspend him in the face of a looming governance crisis in the state.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the President’s actions were consistent with Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, in response to the political instability and security threats in Rivers State,” Nkwocha said, adding that the National Assembly overwhelmingly ratified the emergency measures.
The Presidency called on media outlets and political commentators to refrain from politicising Shettima’s speech, warning against fabricating non-existent conflicts within the administration.
“Vice President Shettima stands firmly with President Tinubu in implementing the necessary steps to preserve democracy and restore stability in Rivers State,” the statement concluded.
