The Office of the Vice President has strongly condemned what it described as a gross misrepresentation of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s remarks during the public presentation of the book “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block” authored by Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, held at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
In a statement signed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), the presidency said certain media outlets irresponsibly twisted Shettima’s comments, falsely linking them to the recent political developments in Rivers State and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s constitutional actions in the state.
The Vice President, according to the statement, had only offered a historical reflection on events during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, particularly on how the federal government once contemplated removing him from office while he served as governor of Borno State amid the height of the Boko Haram insurgency.
“It is disappointing,” the statement noted, “that some sensational reports attempted to draw false parallels between this historical account and the state of emergency declared in Rivers State, along with the suspension—not removal—of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by President Tinubu.”
Clarifying further, the presidency stressed that Shettima’s remarks were solely aimed at commending the author’s past conduct as Attorney General and discussing how Nigeria’s constitutional democracy has evolved to resolve federal-state tensions through lawful mechanisms.
“For the avoidance of doubt,” the statement continued, “President Tinubu did not remove Governor Fubara from office. The constitutional action taken was suspension, in response to the grave political and security crises in Rivers State, including the demolition of the State House of Assembly complex and a looming impeachment threat.”
It added that the situation in Rivers State cannot be likened to the North East insurgency under Jonathan’s administration, which involved a threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty. In contrast, Tinubu’s response followed constitutional due process, backed by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution and ratified by a bipartisan majority in the National Assembly.
Quoting Section 305(1)(c), the presidency emphasized the legal basis for declaring a state of emergency in situations where there is a breakdown of public order and public safety. It stressed that Rivers State had met that constitutional threshold following escalating violence, institutional paralysis, and attacks on federal assets.
“It is therefore wrong,” the statement warned, “to interpret Senator Shettima’s observations as commentary on current political affairs. His references were academic and illustrative, not political or critical of any government action.”
The statement further described attempts to twist Shettima’s comments as “a cynical and deplorable act” that undermines national cohesion and sows seeds of division where none exist.
“Vice President Shettima stands shoulder to shoulder with President Tinubu in safeguarding our democracy through difficult but necessary constitutional measures. This administration remains united and firmly committed to the rule of law and responsible governance.”
The post “I Never Said That” — Shettima Denies Criticising Jonathan Or Linking Fubara’s Suspension To Past Sack Plot appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
3 min read
520 words
5 views