The Office of the Vice President has strongly condemned the misrepresentation of comments made by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima during the public presentation of the book “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block” by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Abuja.
In a statement on Friday, the Vice President’s office expressed concern over what it described as a “gross distortion” of his remarks by certain online media outlets and individuals, who, according to the statement, twisted his account of events under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan to suit a “mischievous agenda.”
Vice President Shettima had shared how, during his tenure as Governor of Borno State, there were discussions within the Jonathan administration about possibly removing him from office at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East. However, the Vice President’s office clarified that this anecdote was merely a historical reference and not intended as a comment on the current political situation in Rivers State or the constitutional actions taken by President Bola Tinubu.
“The Vice President’s remarks were made in the context of praising the professionalism and integrity of former Attorney General Mohammed Adoke. They were intended to reflect on Nigeria’s constitutional development and the management of federal-state tensions—not to compare different situations or question the President’s decisions,” the statement noted.
The statement stressed that President Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid a political crisis in Rivers State was made within the ambit of the constitution, in line with Section 305(3)(c), which provides for federal intervention when there is a breakdown of public order and safety.
“Unlike the situation in Borno during the insurgency, the crisis in Rivers was a political emergency threatening the stability of democratic institutions,” the statement continued. “President Tinubu’s action prevented further escalation and restored order.”
The Vice President’s office further emphasised that the President did not remove Governor Fubara from office, as has been falsely reported, but suspended certain functions of government in accordance with constitutional provisions. This suspension, ratified by a bipartisan majority in the National Assembly, helped avoid an outright constitutional breakdown in the state.
“To equate a suspension with removal is misleading and disingenuous,” the statement said. “Senator Shettima made no reference to any comparison with the current situation in Rivers State, nor did he criticise the President. On the contrary, he reaffirmed his full loyalty to President Tinubu and support for the administration’s efforts to preserve national stability.”
The Office of the Vice President urged media outlets and political commentators to act with responsibility and context when reporting public statements, warning that sensationalism undermines national unity and democratic progress.
“Vice President Shettima remains committed to the principle of accountability in public office, the rule of law, and the President’s vision for a united, secure, and democratic Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
