Vice President Kashim Shettima has shared details of an incident involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 election campaign, revealing how the President reacted to allegations surrounding traditional outfits gifted to him by the vice president.…....
Shettima spoke during the unveiling of the autobiography of former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, where he reflected on events that occurred during the build-up to the presidential election.
According to the vice president, he purchased traditional Borno “Wagambari” materials and caps for Tinubu while they were campaigning across northern Nigeria for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress. He explained that the outfits were intended to help Tinubu connect more closely with northern audiences during political engagements.
Shettima said the clothes attracted positive attention from Tinubu’s aides, who reportedly requested additional sets because the attire suited the President well.
However, the vice president disclosed that shortly after Tinubu assumed office, some individuals from Borno allegedly approached the President and warned him against wearing the clothes. According to Shettima, the individuals claimed the outfits had been spiritually manipulated and suggested that he intended to benefit politically if anything happened to Tinubu.
Narrating the incident, Shettima said Tinubu later informed him about the allegation after he returned from an official trip to China. The President reportedly dismissed the claims, noting that the accusations did not make sense because, at the time the clothes were given to him, neither of them had secured their current positions.
Shettima added that Tinubu deliberately continued wearing the traditional outfits for an entire week to demonstrate that he was not influenced by superstition or political rumours. He described the episode as an example of the kind of suspicion and political intrigue that often surrounds power in Nigeria.
