Despite Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s history of drug trafficking, Kashim Shettima defended him, stating that Tinubu is not in power to amass wealth but to make a positive impact on Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch of Modupe Adelabu’s book, ‘Navigating the Politics of Universal Education Policies in Nigeria,’ Shettima described Tinubu as a leader deserving of public trust.
Shettima recounted his visit to Tinubu’s residence in Bourdillon, noting that it was modest compared to expectations and claimed his own house in Maiduguri was better.
He also highlighted Tinubu’s simplicity, mentioning his preference for a basic meal and minimal personal belongings.
Shettima stated, “He is in power to leave landmarks in the sands of time. He is the most demonised politician in Nigeria.
“The first time I went to his house at Bourdillon, I was looking forward to seeing a mansion comparable to Buckingham Palace, with gardens, and swimming pools, but there was nothing special about that house.
“My house in Maiduguri is better than the house in Bourdillon.
“And at the formative stage of the APC, we held a meeting in his house. They served us a variety of meals, but he opted to take garri with groundnut for lunch. Since I have known him, he has been using only one wristwatch, and in fact, I dress better than him.
“He doesn’t even care. He has overcome all those odds to dress well. So, we need to rally around this poor man. He has taken some bold steps. The economy that we met was in a huge mess.
“But it wasn’t for us; we were part of the Buhari administration; we cannot deny that. We belong to the political family. It’s not about apportioning blame; it’s about finding solutions to our nation’s needs.
“We knew there were challenges. Forget about the politics being played by Atiku Abubakar and the obedient crowd; they all said they were going to withdraw the fuel subsidy.”
He emphasised that despite challenges faced by the administration, including economic difficulties and security issues, Tinubu has made bold decisions and is working towards improving the nation’s economy.
He added, “We are now exporting about 1.7 million barrels of oil per day; the naira is stabilising against the dollar, and with the food security crisis that is confronting us, we cannot divorce ourselves from the realities in the global space.
“It’s not a localised phenomenon, but ours was further compounded by the security challenges in the traditional food basket of the country, the north-central, and the north-west, but the security issues will be addressed, and be rest assured that in the coming months, Nigerians will see a sea of change in their fortunes. I want to ask all of us to rally around this poor man.”
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