Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Tinubu forgave northern governors who opposed his presidential ambition during the 2023 election.
Shettima made the disclosure on Wednesday in Ilorin, Kwara State, while speaking at the turbaning of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate by the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
The Vice President, speaking amid political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, urged politicians to avoid allowing political disagreements to permanently damage relationships.
Shettima recalled that Tinubu faced opposition from several northern governors during the 2023 presidential contest but continued with his campaign despite the limited support.
According to him, only six of the 19 northern governors supported Tinubu’s presidential bid at the time.
Shettima said Tinubu later reached out to the governors who had opposed him after winning the election.
“After the 2023 election, President Tinubu hugged and forgave all other northern governors that did not support him. That is a mark of a good leader,” he said.
He urged politicians in Kwara State to follow the same approach by reconciling after political contests and putting their differences aside once elections are over.
“I call on all of us to unite in this political season and play politics without bitterness,” Shettima said.
His comments came amid disagreements within the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress following its governorship primary, with some aggrieved aspirants and their supporters forming the G-15 group.
The Vice President also reminded politicians that political power is temporary and urged public office holders to approach their responsibilities with humility and a spirit of service.
Shettima further defended the Tinubu administration’s handling of the country’s economic challenges, saying the government chose to implement its reform programme rather than focus on assigning blame.
