Our Political Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has mocked Atiku Abubakar after contesting Nigeria’s Presidency for 8th time, noting ‘‘he’s is more like Odinga Odinga than Abraham Lincoln.’’
Straightnews gathered that Lincoln lost elections five times in United States of America, while Raila Odinga lost Kenyan presidential elections five times to his opponents.
Shettima, who indirectly referred to Atiku to Odinga as losing mates in the presidential race, noted ‘‘I will still respect him and call him a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. I will not follow suit with Babachir Lawal and call him Kachalla. No!,” Shettima said.
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Speaking at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in Abuja on Wednesday, the vice president, questioned Atiku’s economic expertise, arguing that the ability to collect taxes does not automatically qualify someone as an economic expert.
“Anyone with elementary arithmetic can be a tax collector. With ability to collect taxes does not transform one into an economic guru. So, people should avoid listening to economic voodoos and people who do not understand the dynamics of modern economy. With all due respect to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, he was trained in Kano School of Hygiene as Duba-gari in Hausa and Wole-wole in Yoruba.”
Shettima said the APC intends to focus on ideas and policies throughout the campaign, describing its opponents as brothers and fellow Nigerians rather than enemies.
He, however, warned that the ruling party would respond to anyone who insults Tinubu.
“But let us make it very clear if anyone take insults and take this man seated here (Tinubu) for granted, we will reply appropriately. Anyone who is not willing to respect others does not deserve to be respected. I want to thank you sincerely on behalf of my principal,” he said.
The Vice President also attacked former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing him of relying on “bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions” as the All Progressives Congress (APC) inaugurated its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.
Taking a swipe at Obi, Shettima argued that economic policies adopted in other countries could not be applied wholesale to Nigeria without considering differences in population and economic structure.
“Peter Obi, the master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions, seems convinced that a size 36 shirt tailored for Bangladesh will somehow fit Nigeria’s size 52 frame. What succeeds in Bangladesh cannot simply be transplanted to Nigeria without accounting for differences in our population and economic structure,” Shettima said.
He also defended Tinubu’s status as president, insisting that political opponents should show respect for the office he occupies.
Shettima said Tinubu, whom he described as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, had been entrusted with leading 200 million Nigerians.
“…entrusted with leading 200 million Nigerians, those who come with equity must come with clean hands. You can call him Bola. If you like you can call him Adekunle but the truth is that he is the President and Commander in Chief of Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Kwankwaso Defends Obi
However, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has faulted Vice President Shettima’s description of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as “the master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions.”
Reacting during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Kwankwaso defended Obi, describing him as a politician who is conversant with statistics and generally presents accurate figures.
The former Kano State governor said he often cross-checks figures cited by Obi and had found most of them to be correct, while acknowledging that occasional errors or slips of the tongue were possible.
“I always listen to him (Peter Obi), like all others, I take time to check the statistics. As far as I am concerned, most of the figures he was saying were correct and the only thing, of course as human beings you are bound to make mistakes or a slip of tongue as they call it.
“But for him (Shettima) to come and make that statement, I don’t think he is correct. So, I am happy that our presidential candidate is somebody who is conversant with statistics, not only in this country but all over the world, in Europe, Asia, everywhere and I think that is a good one,” Kwankwaso said.
