Shettima's Retention Driven by Trust, Strategy for 2027, Analyst Tells ARISE NEWS

Abba Kaka, a public policy analyst and development specialist, has indicated that President Bola Tinubu's choice to keep Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate stems from a blend of trust, firm confidence, and astute political foresight concerning the 2027 general elections. For several months, President Tinubu was at the center of conjectures regarding the continuity of Shettima on his presidential ticket. The President's official declaration on Friday, confirming Shettima's status, finally put to rest the widespread uncertainty and political discourse surrounding the upcoming election cycle.

During an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, Kaka elaborated that the President’s choice underscores his conviction in Shettima’s abilities, alongside being shaped by larger political considerations for the 2027 polls. Kaka stated, "Actually, what it means is that the president has trust and confidence in his vice president, and all speculations have now ended. Being an experienced politician himself, finally, he decided to keep the same ticket. And that shows the level of confidence he has in Shettima and the level of trust, as well as the fact that, the dynamics of the politics have not really changed because Shettima comes from the Northeast, where the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, ran in 2023, and he’s running again. The same thing will be Peter Obi is also running, but both of them on different platforms this time around. But politics normally is a game of interest, a game of calculations, and a game of balancing those interests and calculations. So, the president, apparently, has balanced the ticket based on what he can see happening."

Kaka commended Shettima’s tenure as vice president, characterising him as a loyal, informed, and dedicated representative for President Tinubu, both domestically and on the global stage. He further explained that a vice president's duties are primarily defined by the assignments given by the President, noting Shettima's effective execution of his responsibilities within the current administration. Kaka affirmed, "I would say that Shettima has been loyal. Shettima has been forthright. Shettima has been all over the place representing his boss. Well, when they say you are a deputy, obviously you are a deputy. So, it’s whatever the president gives you to do becomes your job. He is also a man of intense knowledge. He’s a reservoir of knowledge. He is young and passionate about the job. And he has gone round the country representing the president and gone round the world representing the president. The vice president of any place is—it means vice president. So, whatever the president decides you do is what you do."

The development expert also recognized existing discontent among certain northern populations concerning the current government, pointing to issues such as widespread poverty, insecurity, and a sense of marginalization. However, Kaka highlighted Shettima's crucial contribution to Tinubu's electoral success in the North during the 2023 elections, suggesting that the President should prioritize addressing northern concerns in preparation for the 2027 polls. He stated, "People in the North are aggrieved. No doubt about that. And the president also knows that, and he has said it several times. But politicians as politicians—Shettima played a critical role in 2023 for the president in the North. Don’t forget that the president got 63% or 65% of the votes from the North. So, I would advise the president to actually focus on the North because there’s a lot of aggrieved people. The North is feeling the pinch of what is happening—so much poverty, so much insecurity, so much neglect, and so much imbalance in the government."

Addressing the prudence of the President’s political judgment in retaining Shettima, Kaka contended that a change in the vice presidency could potentially undermine Tinubu’s prospects in the Northeast region. He emphasized that Shettima's extensive grassroots appeal and his political background, having served as a former governor, senator, and now vice president, solidify his value to the presidential ticket. Kaka concluded, "If it’s not broken, why fix it?’ Don’t fix it. So, the issue is this, and the Vice President, Shettima, is a grassroots politician. He has gone through the ropes. He has been a governor, a senator, and a sitting vice president. And before then, obviously, he’s a successful banker as well. So, I actually commend the president for keeping him on the ticket because, you know, bringing somebody new to the ticket means you are distorting the arrangement."