Shettima: Only Six Northern Governors Supported Tinubu in 2023

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that only six of the 19 northern governors believed in and supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his 2023 presidential bid.

Shettima made the disclosure on Wednesday at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the turbaning of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.

Reflecting on Tinubu’s political journey ahead of the 2023 election, Shettima said the President faced significant opposition but remained determined to pursue his ambition.

“You all know that we have 19 states in the North; out of these, only six actually believed and supported Tinubu, but Tinubu refused to be deterred. He was able to cross the road,” Shettima said.

The Vice President identified former Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq among those who supported Tinubu, but declined to name the other governors, saying he wanted to avoid controversy.

Shettima also recalled the political tensions surrounding the 2023 presidential contest, saying several obstacles were placed in Tinubu’s path.

He said the experience should encourage politicians to reconcile after political contests rather than treat politics as a permanent battle.

According to him, Tinubu demonstrated this approach after the 2023 election by reaching out to northern governors who had not supported his presidential ambition.

“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,” Shettima said.

Shettima subsequently urged politicians in Kwara State to close ranks after the APC primaries and prioritise the development of the state regardless of the outcome of the political contest.