Politics

Kashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident

Published

2 years ago

August 21, 2024

News Net Global

Kashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP's Official Resident

Kashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident

By: Dr. James Bwala

I have had arguments over and over again on the subject of the VP’s official residence in my interactions with supposedly intellectual personalities. But I am beginning to realize that their drives were informed by sentiments. They are not happy that it was Kashim Shettima who was the first occupant of this building. I have come to understand that they are not happy to have a Nigeria that speaks of a good image because the Vice President also represents the image of Nigeria. They are not happy because, in their own opinion, the VP of Nigeria does not carry the value for such an accommodation. In their primitive thinking, it would have been well if our VP were living in a thatched house, so they could continue to use that image of Africa outside its shores and to those who continued to view Africa as the mother of all primitivism.

Sometimes I wonder why some of them cannot see through the years they have spent in school. From primary education to university, it takes at least 16 years for uninterrupted students to earn a degree. Although some were affected by the constant strike, I will pardon them. But there are many who spent between 20 and 30 years crisscrossing the university landscape as perpetual students until some Moses came through grace to ask the Pharaoh of their lives to let them go. In the end, even after earning many certificates at home and abroad, they could not reach the promised land after all these years because they were perpetually in the darkness and perished for lack of knowledge.

Ordinarily, one should have the understanding to think beyond the surface of what the eyes can see and tell. The argument over the VP resident, seen by some Nigerians as a wasted investment, is becoming a drive for sentiment. Why point to the current VP when we all know or should know that the 21 billion naira VP’s resident is an official resident for Nigeria’s VP and not for Kashim Shettima as an individual? The project for building a befitting resident for the number two citizen dates back 14 years, long before the dream of Tinubu and Kashim Shettima’s administration. It was started many years before Kashim Shettima perhaps dreamed of becoming one who would have occupied it. And in eight years, by the grace of God, it will not be Kashim Shettima who will be the occupant of this building called the VP’s residence. But because these so-called individuals see nothing beyond their noses, they continued with their adoption of tribal ideas.

Whenever the issues of economic hardship come to play on social media and on television, some sentimental Nigerians feel that this is a good time to talk about the Nigerian Vice President and the official residence he is occupying. They talk and give examples as if that is the only area where Nigerian resources have been put, not for usefulness but as a waste. And in all senses of their judgment, not one of them has talked about the government that started that project and those that left it abandoned. That is waste! But rather, they keep blaming the government, which sees the need to end the waste by completing the project. They also feel bad that it is Kashim Shettima who is currently occupying, as if, in their senses, he did not deserve it.

The contract for the construction of the building was awarded in 2010 but abandoned in 2015. Those who are accusing the Tinubu/Kashim Shettima administration of completing it should go back to history and learn some lessons. Those who always point at the vice president, Kashim Shettima, to give or satisfy their anger or hatred for his person as an occupant of that value should know that the vice president is living comfortably in his own residence and shall enjoy the comfort that his office offered to have the desired spaces to help in building Nigeria on account of his values to this nation.

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The same personalities and their foot soldiers have blamed the president for supporting the Buhari regime. But they forgot the facts: not only Tinubu supported the Buhari regime, but millions of Nigerians at the time believed in the Buhari movement. However, almost all were later disappointed, including the president, who at some point could not hide his dissatisfaction with the Buhari regime. We all shouted, ‘Sai Baba’ at some point, and we all cried out, “Waiyo Baba” when the Buhari administration turned regimented.

For the sake of record, let me remind many of these sentimental Nigerians that, while explaining the high cost of the project at the commissioning, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said it was awarded at an initial cost of N7 billion in 2010. According to him, the building was constructed to a certain level and later abandoned. We all know what happened, but perhaps these individuals like to picture Nigeria always in the eyes of Western civilization. In his words, Wike said, this project was awarded in 2010, 14 years ago, and was abandoned in 2015. It was not until January of this year that we had a revised budget for the project. Now, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has come and, within a year, put it to use. It was in January this year (2024) that we had to review the project to N21 billion from N7 billion, which means an additional N14 billion. For a vice president’s residence to take 14 good years, and then Mr. President, within a year, made it a reality, this is what is called renewed hope.”

Perhaps we can now clearly see the faces of those who want Nigeria to continually be in a state of retrogressive perpetuality whenever they come to the screen or display their intentional minds in social media discussions. But for me and all those who believe that Ngeria will work again, and through the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President, we hold the same opinion with the President in the words of the VP during the commissioning of this project: “I hold a very strong opinion that abandoning projects after substantial expenditures have been incurred is inherently wasteful, and it is in the best interest of the government and the public to see them through to completion. I therefore, once again, want to express my gratitude to the FCT Administration for taking up the responsibility and feeling duty-bound to complete this project to avoid wastage of taxpayers’ money.”

If we understood that it is wasteful to abandon projects as such, we would have shown understanding of the ideas expressed in the initiative to renew our hope for tomorrow. Recalling what the VP had said rather than dwelling on past shortcomings, while speaking of the FCT administration, the Nysome Wike-led FCT has chosen to seize this opportunity to demonstrate government resolve to confront obstacles head-on and deliver on the promises made to the Nigerian people in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, which has the completion of inherited projects as one of its cardinal objectives. And this indeed underscores the importance of the project. The provision of a suitable residence for the vice president is not merely a matter of convenience but also a symbol of respect for the office and the individual who occupies it. I therefore submit that those who think the VP’s house is a waste of money should put their blames on the government that started the project and those who abandoned it because Nigeria’s hard-earned money was put to the tune of 7 billion naira and abandoned for 14 years by those whose foot soldiers, are now condemning those who are saying that Nigeria’s resources should not be left to waste.

Dr. James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.

Kashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident

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Politics

ADC; Coalition Is Not Enough

Published

2 days ago

April 4, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

ADC; Coalition Is Not Enough

By Kunle Awosiyan

Sincerely, if you observe the politics of Bola Ahmed Tinubu keenly and critically, you will realise that he is a very thorough politician.

He goes beyond merely spreading his tentacles to bring people into his fold; he deploys every available tool to outmanoeuvre his opponents.

He looks beyond coalition-building, studying his adversaries like a football coach analysing opponents, identifying loopholes and exploiting them to secure victory.

Though trained as an accountant, Tinubu has immersed himself in research, journalism, and law, transforming these disciplines into strategic assets in his political playbook.

This is where many of his opponents have faltered. Rather than studying him, they have focused more on blackmail and rhetoric.

Instead of carefully navigating the legal and institutional frameworks of politics, they appear fixated on hastily dislodging him by jumping into any available political platform without adequately addressing procedural and legal vulnerabilities.

They needed a platform, no doubt, but have shown insufficient patience and diligence to close loopholes that could ultimately undermine their efforts.

Those in the opposition today, particularly within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), appear unprepared for the level of work required to clinch power.

If Tinubu were a football coach, he would lose very few matches and only by slim margins. He would win many more, including major trophies. Any coach hoping to defeat such a team must not only be intelligent but exceptionally thorough.

It is time the opposition understands that democracy, in its modern form, goes beyond the classical definition of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It now encompasses the strategic deployment of law, not just the accumulation of votes, as a pathway to power.

Interestingly, the purported chairman of the ADC and former Senate President, David Mark, recently criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over its interpretation of the legal principle of status quo ante bellum.

This followed the derecognition of his leadership by the commission.

While the legal jargon may be complex, the implication is clear: those within the ADC understand the power of law in a democracy, yet have failed to deploy it effectively, choosing instead to blame Tinubu for their own strategic missteps.

The ruling party, All Progressives Congress, had swiftly replied ADC that neither the president nor the party is involved in its woe.

Ironically, two prominent figures within the ADC leadership ranks, Peter Obi and Rauf Aregbesola once benefited from judicial victories at different points in their political careers, underscoring the very importance of legal strategy in electoral contests.

Politicians seeking to challenge Tinubu, including Atiku Abubakar, David Mark, Nasir El-Rufai, Aregbesola, and Obi still have significant work to do if they are to mount a serious challenge. It is unfortunate that many appear to interpret democracy primarily through the lens of coalition-building, without deeper strategic grounding.

If Obi does not fully grasp this, one would expect Aregbesola given his political history with Tinubu to understand it better. Over the years, Tinubu has built structured teams: legal, economic, security, and political dedicated to analysing and countering opposition forces.

Among those in the ADC, Aregbesola may be the closest in experience to Tinubu’s model, but he cannot do it alone. One individual cannot match a coordinated network of experts working with a singular objective.

Let it be clear: INEC is not the enemy. However, it is bound by the rule of law and cannot act in defiance of court decisions.

Ultimately, for politicians who believe they can simply assemble themselves and appeal to public emotion through criticism of the ruling party, the reality is stark: modern democracy demands far more. It requires depth, structure, strategy, and above all, smartness.

ADC; Coalition Is Not Enough

Politics

Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari: The Unassailable Choice for APC Candidate in Borno State

Published

2 weeks ago

March 25, 2026

News Net Global

Distinguished Senator Abubakar Kyari

Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari: The Unassailable Choice for APC Candidate in Borno State

By: Dr. James Bwala

Let me look at this personality as Borno State gears up for the 2027 governorship election, intense speculation surrounds the candidate who will represent the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Among the array of contenders, one figure emerges with an unparalleled pedigree, extensive political experience, and strategic alliances that position him as the most compelling choice for the next governor of Borno state— Senator Abubakar Kyari. His distinguished background, formidable political track record, and connections to Nigeria’s top leadership underscore why he is not only the natural front-runner but also the candidate most capable of leading Borno State into a prosperous future.

Senator Abubakar Kyari’s pedigree is arguably unmatched by any other aspirant within Borno State’s political landscape. He hails from a prominent family with a deep tradition of public service. His late father, Brigadier General Abba Kyari, served as military governor of Kaduna State — a position that symbolized trust, responsibility, and leadership during a critical period of Nigeria’s history. This legacy has bestowed on Senator Kyari a foundation of respect and influence that few candidates can claim. History often demonstrates that political acumen and commitment to governance run in families, and if this pattern holds true, Senator Kyari is poised to etch his own name in the annals of Borno State’s political history.