2027: Has Tinubu Abandoned Shettima on the Road to a Second Term?
When Senator Kashim Shettima stood beside Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2022, confidently declaring that he would handle national security while his principal would focus on the economy, it was more than political bravado it was a public misunderstanding of the power dynamics he was walking into.
“I will lead the troops,” Shettima boldly told lawyers at the Nigerian Bar Association conference, assuming a command role never granted by Nigeria’s Constitution. But two years into office as Vice President, the harsh reality has set in. Not only has Shettima been sidelined from the promised security leadership, but his political visibility and influence have also been severely diminished.
From Power Partner to Political Outsider
Rumors of Shettima being denied access to the presidential villa surfaced in April. Though quickly denied by the Presidency, the buzz from inside Aso Rock suggests a growing rift. Then came the political bombshell: 2027 campaign posters of President Tinubu emerged without Shettima’s image. The silence from the presidency on his exclusion was deafening.
This wasn’t accidental.
The message became clearer at the APC stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe. Top party officials, including National Vice Chairman Mustapha Salihu and Party Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, endorsed Tinubu for 2027 without any mention of Shettima. The backlash from North-East delegates was so intense that the officials were whisked away for their safety. A last-minute attempt to add Shettima’s name to the endorsement list by another party figure failed to calm the storm. The meeting collapsed.
Yet the real problem isn’t Ganduje or Salihu. They’re just messengers. The rejection came straight from the top President Tinubu himself.
Shettima’s Options: Fight, Fade or Be Forgotten
History offers a harsh lesson. In 2003, then Vice President Atiku Abubakar resisted similar efforts by President Obasanjo to boot him off the ticket. Atiku had the political strength to fight back. Shettima? Not so much.
Even if Tinubu keeps him for 2027 for political convenience, Shettima’s relevance would be ceremonial at best and humiliating at worst. If he protests too loudly now, a compliant National Assembly may swiftly impeach him.
The Tinubu Pattern: No Room for Co-Drivers
This isn’t new behavior. As Governor of Lagos (1999–2007), Tinubu had three different deputies all of whom either resigned, were forced out, or left disgraced. From Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele to Femi Pedro, none lasted peacefully. Tinubu has a track record of discarding deputies like old shoes.
Despite glowing media praise before his 2023 inauguration “a democrat,” “a reformer,” “the father of modern Lagos” Tinubu has shown authoritarian instincts. His leadership style brooks no opposition. His promise during his inauguration to “consult and never dictate” has aged poorly.
The Bigger Problem: Is the Vice Presidency Even Necessary?
While the Constitution names the Vice President as a member of key national councils Defense, Security, and the Federal Executive Council the reality is starkly different. The power of a VP in Nigeria depends entirely on the President’s generosity. Most are reduced to symbolic figures, rarely consulted, and often humiliated.
The late Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife once called Nigeria’s deputy roles “spare tyres.” That metaphor still fits.
Should We Keep Funding Redundant Positions?
If Vice Presidents and Deputy Governors continue to be stripped of real power and relevance, then it’s worth asking: Why spend billions of naira maintaining these offices? If political loyalty is rewarded with humiliation, why do so many still lobby for the post knowing they may become the next spare tyre discarded on the road to power?
Has Tinubu dumped Shettima ahead of 2027? All signs point to yes. But perhaps the more important question is: How long will Nigeria keep tolerating a political culture that wastes public resources on ceremonial offices while real power remains concentrated in one man’s hands?
Until these systemic flaws are addressed, today’s Vice President could be tomorrow’s political casualty just like Shettima appears to be.
Reference
2027: Has Tinubu Abandoned Shettima on the Road to a Second Term?