VP Shettima To North: You Have Nothing To Fear In President Tinubu's 2nd Term

As northern think tank, Arewa for Asiwaju, storms Aso Rock, declares full support for president's reelection

According to the statement by the Senior Special Assistant To The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice) Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has issued a rallying cry to the North for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's reelection in the 2027 presidential election, declaring that the region has absolutely nothing to fear from a second term for the President.

With urgent intensity, he implored northern leaders and citizens to unite behind the President's re-election bid, framing the administration's second-term agenda as a secure, bulletproof guarantee for the region's future prosperity and stability.

Senator Shettima made the call on Monday when he received on a courtesy visit, a delegation from the Arewa for Tinubu (A4A) - a northern-based think tank -:working for the reelection of President Tinubu.

He called on leaders across the region to unite into a single front and work for the progress of the area and the wellbeing of its people, which are top priorities for the Tinubu administration.

According to the VP, the North has no reason to be scared of the re-election of President Tinubu, as it has benefitted immensely in terms of appointments and game-changing projects and programmes.

His words: "Let's unite as a people and work for the development of our region and the progress of our people through the re-election of this administration. We are benefiting and we stand to benefit more from this government in many ways.

"The Bank of Agriculture has disbursed N450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria and about 70 percent of the beneficiaries are from the north. 

"The present administration is working towards completing landmark and ground breaking projects in parts of the country. I can assure you that the president loves the north and the president will work for the north."

The Vice President thanked the group for their steadfast support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at all times and appealed to them to work harder and galvanize across wards, communities and local governments in the northern region for the President's re-election.

Earlier, the Director General of the Area for Asiwaju and former Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, said the organisation will not rest on its oars untill they make the North proud by reelecting President Tinubu.

He said the group plans to meet with religious leaders, including Muslim and Christian clerics, as well as other prominent Nigerians to explain to them the need to support the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in 2027. 

"On discussions with the high profile, we have gone far. We have met them severally and the BoT is meeting them again to consolidate our gains and to tell them why there is need to support this ticket.

"We are also supporting the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) with whatever they want us to do that is micro in nature because they are so big and we really don't want to lose sight of the bigger arrangement that is there. We want to focus very well on the contacts at the grassroots - the local government areas and the wards."

Also, Chairman of the organisation's Board of Trustees (BoT) and former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, said the think tank which worked for President Tinubu's election in the 2023 general election will repeat the same feat in 2027.

He said the organisation had been meeting with northern governors and other stakeholders to compare notes and collaborate on areas of working together to achieve the President's reelection.

He noted that the organisation has concluded plan to have a full-fledged secretariat for purposes of coordination, where there will be offices for directors and state coordinators will compare reports, analyse them, and give out instructions to its members. 

The BoT Chairman formally invited the Vice President to officially commission the A4A office complex on Saturday, October 17, 2027.

Also present at the meetig were former Governors of Plateau, Chief Joshua Dariye and Senator Simon Lalong; Taraba, Rev. Jolly Nyame; Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello; Katsina, Barr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema; Bauchi, Mallam Isa Yuguda; Special Adviser to The President on Policy ad Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman; Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), some top officials of government, and other members of the A4A BOT and Secretariat.

Gov. Yusuf Pays Homage to VP Shettima, Congratulates Him on Emergence as Tinubu’s Running Mate

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has paid a homage to the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, following his emergence as the running mate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Saturday.

During the visit on Friday night at Aguda House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Governor Yusuf congratulated the Vice President and rejoiced with him over his nomination, describing it as a recognition of his commitment and service to the nation.

The Governor prayed to Allah to grant President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima wisdom, good health and success as they prepare for the 2027 general election.

Governor Yusuf was accompanied by the member representing Gwale Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Engr. Garba Diso; APC National Ex-Officio, Hon. Muhammad Jamu Yusuf; and the Kano State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Auwalu.

The Governor reaffirmed his support for efforts aimed at promoting unity, peace and sustainable development across Nigeria.

VP Shettima To Journalists: President Tinubu Will Remain Your Ally, Will Preserve Your Rights

Pledges to table NUJ’s demands of protection, review of libel laws, others before the president 

 

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has assured the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains an ally of the media, and is committed to protecting and advancing the journalism profession in the country.

 

In a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President) Stanley Nkwocha, said the Vice President recalled that President Tinubu has long been supportive of the media and would not deviate from his consistent track record of upholding the integrity of the journalism profession in Nigeria.

 

Senator Shettima gave the assurance on Wednesday when he hosted a delegation of the NUJ leadership at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

 

The Vice President however noted that the government and citizens alike expect a lot from the media, emphasizing that the journalism profession stands almost at par with the judiciary.

According to him, journalists are expected to hold public officials accountable and adjudicate on issues of governance.

 “In President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you have a friend, an ally, and a proprietor who has been kind to the Nigerian media over the years.

"I want to assure you that this administration will do its best to promote, project, and preserve the interests of the journalism profession. You are the life wire of the nation — we can’t afford to muzzle you,” the Vice President said.

Describing the media as the conscience of the nation, Senator Shettima stressed that authorities cannot afford to intimidate journalists, as they are indispensable to the survival of democracy in the country.

“Past generations of Nigerian leaders — from Herbert Macaulay to Nnamdi Azikiwe and even Obafemi Awolowo — were first journalists before they became political leaders,” the Vice President recalled.

VP Shettima acknowledged the challenges facing the media industry, noting that several media organizations in Nigeria struggle to pay staff salaries and emoluments.

He appealed to the NUJ to remain hopeful, promising that President Tinubu would continue to support the Union.

“Be rest assured that the President will render his support to your organization. We cannot afford to allow the journalism profession to die,” he added.

Shettima further noted that President Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies was made in the national interest, just as he reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to repositioning the Nigerian economy for the benefit of all citizens.

Earlier, the National President NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, drew the Vice President’s attention to some critical issues confronting journalists in the course of doing their job, urging him to use his office “to take a firm stance in defending press freedom, and ensuring that journalists are not punished for doing their constitutional duty.”

He also urged the government “to initiate a comprehensive review of colonial-era laws such as sections of the Criminal and Penal Codes that continue to criminalize journalism,” maintaining that “libel should be decriminalized.”

 

Other demands made by the NUJ President include facilitation of a national safety protocol for journalists, in collaboration with security agencies, to ensure that no reporter is harmed for simply reporting the news.

 

He also called for government’s partnership with the media to initiate a media support framework, including training grants, soft loans, tax relief, and a targeted bailout for critical media institutions.

 

The NUJ also sought partnerships with TETFUND, universities, and international media institutes to uplift training standards across the profession, as well as the creation of a Permanent Government- Media Liaison Platform under the office of the Vice President to foster regular engagement, clarify national policies, and prevent the vacuum breeding misinformation.

 

Abdullahi pledged the support of the Nigerian press for the President Tinubu's development agenda, noting however that the press will always maintain the right to speak truth to power for the survival of democracy.

 

“We are institutional partners and would not be drowned in the false narratives that the media must be antagonistic to government. Same way we call out government when we feel that certain issues are not clearly given the needed consideration, we also would be ready to applaud government when things have been done right,” he added.

 

He commended the administration of President Tinubu over what he described as tangible efforts and firm support in key areas of national development, despite the economic headwinds facing Nigeria, just like many other nations.

 

Abdullahi acknowledged that in less than three years, the administration has undertaken bold reforms targeted at stabilizing the nation’s economy.