A former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has debunked reports making the rounds that his former boss is being systematically sidelined by President Bola Tinubu’s supporters in the Presidency.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday evening, Baba-Ahmed said the relationship between President Tinubu and VP Shettima remains cordial, stressing that there is no substantial evidence to think otherwise.
Word was rife in Abuja that Shettima was prevented from accessing the Presidential Villa while President Tinubu was on a working visit to France. But Hakeem hinted that Shettima has always been a strong ally of the president and will do everything humanly possible to defend the president with his life.
Asked about Tinubu sidelining Shettima, he said: “No, I didn’t see any evidence of that. The personal chemistry between the president and the VP is excellent.
“The Vice President, as officially recognized by the constitution as the number two citizen – how busy he is, what he does and doesn’t do – depends on the disposition of the president.
“The personal chemistry between the president and the vice president is excellent. I hear this from the Vice President, and I believe him.
“Sometimes, almost to a fault, Shettima always says how great the president is, that he is a good man who means well for this country.
“Sometimes, on one or two occasions, I have said to him, if he is so good, how is it we see a lot of the wrong things going on?”
Baba-Ahmed revealed that it is about time Nigerians understand how the Presidency is set up, pointing out that the Presidency is a lot bigger than the president and the vice president, given the presence of powerful aides who can decide if the number two is active or not.
He described the Vice President as an extremely intelligent and hardworking person who is loyal to the president, saying the fact that VP Shettima represents the government well lends credence to the fact that all is well between the two men.
