Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday disclosed that some individuals from Borno State once warned President Bola Tinubu against wearing traditional outfits he gave him during the 2023 election campaign, alleging that the clothes were spiritually manipulated.
According to Shettima, the President dismissed the allegation and deliberately continued wearing the attire for one week to prove that the claims were baseless.
The Vice President made the revelation in Abuja during the public presentation of former Head of State Yakubu Gowon’s autobiography titled My Life of Duty and Allegiance, where he represented Tinubu.
Shettima said the incident reflected the growing level of distrust and suspicion in the country’s political space.
Drawing a comparison with the past, he recalled an account by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who spoke about how his family regularly sent gallons of fura to Gowon at Dodan Barracks in Lagos without any fear or suspicion.
According to him, Gowon accepted the gesture in an atmosphere of trust that has now diminished in contemporary Nigeria.
He said, “The Sultan narrated how his family used to send gallons of fura to General Gowon every week at Dodan Barracks, and he accepted them without suspicion because there was trust and confidence between them.
“But today, suspicion has crept into our relationships, and it should not be so. We are one people with a shared destiny.”
Shettima further narrated that during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, he sourced Borno traditional attire and caps for Tinubu as the then-presidential aspirant toured the northern region seeking support.
He explained that Tinubu’s aides later informed him that the clothes fitted perfectly and that the President wore them frequently during the campaign period.
The Vice President, however, said the situation took a dramatic turn a few months after Tinubu assumed office.
According to him, after returning from Beijing in October 2023, where he represented the President at the Belt and Road Initiative Forum, Tinubu informed him that some people had advised him to stop wearing the outfits.
Shettima quoted the President as saying, “Your people came to me and warned me against wearing the clothes you gave me. They claimed I had been charmed and that I would die, allowing you to become President.”
He said Tinubu rejected the allegation, noting that the claim lacked logic because both of them were merely aspirants when the clothes were given to him.
“The President told them their story did not add up because at the time I gave him the clothes, I was not even the vice-presidential candidate, and he was not yet the party’s flag bearer,” Shettima added.
According to him, Tinubu continued wearing the attire for one week to demonstrate that he was not influenced by superstition or fetish beliefs.
“These are some of the games being played in political circles today,” he said.
Shettima also paid glowing tribute to Gowon, describing him as one of the few Nigerian leaders whose legacy continues to inspire national unity and reconciliation.
He praised Gowon for establishing the National Youth Service Corps after the civil war and for his contributions to regional integration through ECOWAS.
The Vice President urged Nigerians to resist divisive tendencies and embrace unity, particularly in conflict-prone areas such as Plateau State.
He described Gowon as “the last man standing” among Nigeria’s post-independence military leaders and said the autobiography serves as an important reflection on the nation’s history.
The event was attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Ireti Kingibe, and several retired military officers and dignitaries.
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