Vice-President Kashim Shettima has revealed that some individuals allegedly tried to sow distrust between him and President Bola Tinubu shortly after they assumed office in 2023, claiming the traditional outfits he gave the president during the campaign were spiritually manipulated.
Shettima disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the public presentation of the autobiography of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.
According to the vice-president, the incident occurred about three months after their inauguration when some people from Borno State reportedly advised President Tinubu to stop wearing the traditional garments Shettima had provided during the APC presidential campaign.
He explained that the clothes and caps were specially sourced to help Tinubu connect with northern audiences during campaign tours across the region.
“When we were campaigning for him to emerge as the candidate of the APC, we were going round the north. So, I got some materials and caps for him to blend with the northern crowd,” Shettima said.
He added that Tinubu’s aides later requested additional outfits because the attire suited the president.
Shettima said some individuals later approached Tinubu with allegations that the garments were charmed and intended to harm him so that the vice-president could take over power.
“Barely three months after we were sworn into office, some of my people from Borno came to him and said, ‘Stop wearing those Shettima clothings. He must have charmed them and you’re going to die and he will become the president,’” he said.
The vice-president praised Tinubu for dismissing the allegations, noting that the president told him the claims did not make sense because Shettima gave him the clothes before he emerged as the APC presidential candidate.
According to Shettima, Tinubu deliberately continued wearing the outfits for about a week to prove he was not influenced by such claims.
“These are some of the gimmicks that are taking place in power circles in Nigeria nowadays,” he added.
Speaking further at the event, Shettima commended Gowon for promoting unity and national integration during his time as Nigeria’s leader.
He recalled that during Gowon’s administration, there was deep trust across religious and regional lines, citing how the family of the Sultan of Sokoto regularly sent “gallons of fura” to Dodan Barracks in Lagos without suspicion.
Describing Gowon as “a Christian son of the north,” Shettima said the former military ruler demonstrated that identity could exist without division or hostility.
He also praised Gowon’s role in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States, describing ECOWAS as one of Africa’s most important regional cooperation initiatives.
According to the vice-president, the vision behind ECOWAS remains relevant as West Africa continues to confront insecurity, economic challenges, and regional instability.