Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, says Vice President Kashim Shettima holds northern governors in high regard.
Nkwocha said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, clarifying recent remarks by Shettima concerning the support President Bola Tinubu received from northern governors.
He said Shettima recognised the individual and collective contributions of northern governors and other APC leaders to the party’s success and Tinubu’s emergence in 2023.
Nkwocha explained that Shettima’s reference to six northern governors who supported Tinubu concerned political consultations and alignments before the APC presidential primary in June 2022.
“The Office of the Vice President wishes to clarify remarks by Vice President Kashim Shettima concerning the support President Bola Tinubu received from northern governors in the build-up to his emergence as the APC presidential candidate.
“It was not a comment on the position of northern APC governors following President Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s candidate, nor was it intended to question their support during the 2023 presidential election,” he said.
The presidential aide said that after the presidential primary, APC governors in the North rallied around the party’s candidate.
He added that the northern governors played important roles in the campaign and electoral efforts that culminated in Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 general election.
“Indeed, it is worthy of note that it was after the declaration of President Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential primary that all other governors across the country rallied round and followed suit.
“That declaration by the northern governors hence became the aligning moment across all political divides in the quest for power shift,” he said.
Nkwocha said Shettima regretted any interpretation of his remarks that may have suggested otherwise and hoped the clarification would place the comments in proper context.
“VP Shettima also appreciates the Nigerian media for its longstanding professionalism and constructive engagement with his office.
“He urges continued accuracy and context in the reporting of public remarks as the country approaches another political season,” he said.
