Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday revealed what he described as a strange warning allegedly made to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the start of his administration.
Shettima spoke at the public presentation of former Head of State Yakubu Gowon’s autobiography, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, where he represented the President.
He said some individuals from Borno State allegedly urged Tinubu to stop wearing traditional attire gifted by him, claiming it was used to “charm” the President. According to him, Tinubu dismissed the claim and continued wearing the outfits for a week to debunk the rumour.
“Sit down. Your people came to me and said I should stop wearing those dresses you gave me. They said I must have been charmed, and that I am going to die and he will become the president”, Shettima quoted Tinubu as saying.
He said the incident reflects growing suspicion in political life, contrasting it with the trust associated with former Head of State Yakubu Gowon.
Shettima also recalled that the attire was used during the 2023 campaign to help Tinubu connect with northern audiences, adding that the President dismissed later claims as baseless. In his remarks, he praised Gowon’s legacy, including the NYSC scheme, ECOWAS, and efforts toward national unity.
