Vice-President Kashim Shettima, following the recent verdict upholding President Bola Tinubu’s victory by the presidential election tribunal, has outlined his plans to harness the experience and knowledge of former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in the post-election phase.
Speaking to journalists outside the Court of Appeal in Abuja shortly after the tribunal’s decision, Vice-President Shettima emphasized a transition from politics to governance. He expressed his deep respect for Atiku Abubakar, referring to him as an elder statesman.
“We have moved beyond the phase of politics. Now, we are in the phase of governance. Atiku Abubakar is an elder statesman that I hold in very high esteem,” Shettima stated. He further elaborated on the unique cultural relationship between the Fulanis and Kanuris in the northern region, which allows for candid exchanges.
“Anybody who knows the socio-cultural interaction between the Fulanis and Kanuris in the north would know that I have the liberty to hurl all insults at him and he’d stoically bear, he said.
“We are not going to retire Atiku to Dubai or Morocco. I’d retire him to Kombina. I’d buy him goats, broilers, and layers so that he can spend his days rearing cows and broilers,” Shettima humorously remarked.
He clarified that his intention is to engage Atiku Abubakar’s wealth of experience and exposure for the benefit of the nation.
“On a more serious note, Atiku is an elder statesman. The nation needs him. Experience is not something that you can buy in the market. We’d tap into his wealth of experience and exposure to catapult the nation to a higher pedestal. Politics is over, governance is now important.”
Watch Shettima speak below:
“We will retire Atiku to Kombina, I will buy him goats and broilers and layers so that he can spend his days rearing goats and broilers” – Shettima after Tribunal victory.
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) September 7, 2023
The presidential election petition tribunal, consisting of a five-member panel, rendered a unanimous decision on Wednesday. The suits filed by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 election, were dismissed. The tribunal also declared Bola Tinubu as the duly elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The post-election phase now appears to hold the promise of collaboration between Vice-President Shettima and former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, with an emphasis on leveraging Atiku’s experience and wisdom for the betterment of the nation.
