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

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2 years ago

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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. 

READ ALSO:https://newsng.ng/police-witness-tells-iip-sars-how-peter-ekwealor-slumped-after-allegedly-confessing-to-killing-asp-akoh-ude/

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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Consensus Imposition of Mining Magnate Seriki As Governorship Candidate By The Governor Threatens Gradual Implosion in Kwara APC

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17 hours ago

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May 17, 2026

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Consensus Imposition of Mining Magnate Seriki As Governorship Candidate By The Governor Threatens Gradual Implosion in Kwara APC

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The culture of consensus which has enveloped the All Progressive Congress (APC) party in kwara is threatening the very unity among party stalwarts even as some aspirants have vowed to oppose any imposition of candidates by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Trouble actually started when Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, initiated underground moves to anoint the controversial mining magnate, Abdulfatah Seriki-Gambari, popularly known as “Yahaya Seriki”, as his preferred candidate to replace him ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Political watchers in the state have hinted that the move is already generating anger and tension with influential stakeholders and other aspirants engrossed in fierce internal battles over the control of the party and what they described as the faulty succession moves by the governor despite having an array of more experienced aspirants equally eager to throw in their hats into the ring for the coveted office.

However, this latest development comes despite previous controversies surrounding Seriki’s mining activities in Kwara State, including calls by members of the Kwara State House of Assembly last year seeking the revocation of some of his mining licences over alleged irregularities and concerns raised by local communities.

Multiple high-ranking APC sources hinted that the Governor had already concluded arrangements to impose Seriki as the party’s consensus governorship candidate following a series of strategic meetings held in Abuja last weekend.

A notice for an emergency meeting circulated to Governorship aspirants last week signed by the Kwara APC Publicity Secretary, Abdulwaheed Babatunde, fixed the meeting for 12 noon last Thursday at the Kwara State Banquet Hall in Ilorin.

With this development, sources close to the government house say that some of the aspirants expected to step down include: Yakubu Danladi; Engr. Olufemi Sanni; Maliaha Ahman-Pategi; Muhammed Belgore and Ahmad Mahmud.

Another source hinted though sadly that many of the aspirants now expected to withdraw from the race were originally encouraged by Governor Abdulrazaq himself to join the contest to create a level of legitimacy for Seriki’s emergence.

It is believed that some stalwarts in the party had earlier accused some forces of narrowing the search for the APC governorship ticket to aspirants from Kwara Central Senatorial District to please certain people who believe it’s there right to stay in power for over 20 years without making way for the other senatorial zones.

They also believe that a large chunk of northern and southern kwara have been taken over by banditry and chaos as such they may not be able to contest against what they described as the central district’s perceived electoral advantage over the rest of the state.

Over 20 traditional rulers and subjects have moved out of their domains to safe havens in the south and Northern zones of kwara making their political strength weakened to a dangerous level of submission to the will of the Governor.

Consensus Imposition of Mining Magnate Seriki As Governorship Candidate By The Governor Threatens Gradual Implosion in Kwara APC

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Zulum Lauds Peaceful Conduct of APC House of Reps Primaries in Borno

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1 day ago

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May 17, 2026

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Zulum Lauds Peaceful Conduct of APC House of Reps Primaries in Borno

By: Michael Mike

Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of the All Progressives Congress primary election for the House of Representatives across the state.

Zulum gave the commendation on Saturday shortly after supervising the APC primary election for the Gubio, Kaga and Magumeri Federal Constituency held in Magumeri town.

Hundreds of party supporters from the three local government areas gathered at the venue to welcome the governor and APC officials overseeing the exercise.

Speaking with journalists after the primary, Zulum said the process was conducted in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and the constitution of the APC, which allows aspirants to adopt consensus arrangements.

“We are here to witness the primary election in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC constitution, which allows for consensus arrangements among aspirants,” the governor stated.

He explained that although three aspirants initially indicated interest in contesting for the party’s House of Representatives ticket, two later withdrew in support of the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Usman Zannah.

“We have three contestants vying for the position of the House of Representatives, but fortunately, under the consensus arrangement as enshrined in the constitution of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), two of the aspirants stepped down for the incumbent member, Hon. Usman Zannah,” he said.

According to the governor, party members and stakeholders from the constituency affirmed their support for the consensus candidate during the exercise.

Zulum congratulated Hon. Zannah on his emergence and praised the aspirants who stepped down — Hon. Shettima Shehu and Alhaji Mohammed Sanda Ngamdu — describing their action as a demonstration of unity, sacrifice and political maturity.

“I want to extend my congratulations to the candidate and the others who stepped down for him,” he said. “I also want to express my appreciation to all APC supporters and the people of Borno State for ensuring a peaceful voting process.”

The governor stressed that the consensus arrangement adopted by the party was voluntary and not designed to deny any aspirant the opportunity to contest.

“Under the consensus arrangement, the government of Borno State and the party have never taken a decision to stop anybody from contesting,” he explained. “Consensus is a voluntary option, and anybody who does not wish to go for a consensus election has the right to participate in a direct primary.”

Chairman of the APC Primary Elections Committee for Gubio, Kaga and Magumeri Federal Constituency, Hon. Yuguda Saleh Vungas, also confirmed that party stakeholders agreed on consensus as the mode of primary election.

He commended Governor Zulum for creating an enabling environment for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the exercise.

Through a voice vote, APC members from the three local government areas unanimously affirmed Hon. Usman Zannah as the party’s consensus candidate for the House of Representatives seat.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and APC national headquarters monitored the exercise.

Governor Zulum was accompanied by the APC consensus gubernatorial candidate, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, Secretary to the State Government Bukar Tijani, and Acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe.

Zulum Lauds Peaceful Conduct of APC House of Reps Primaries in Borno

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APC 2027: Will consensus enforce anti-party as a result of collapses in internal democracy? 

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1 day ago

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May 16, 2026

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APC 2027: Will consensus enforce anti-party as a result of collapses in internal democracy? 

APC 2027: Will consensus enforce anti-party as a result of collapses in internal democracy? 

By: Dr. James Bwala

The All Progressives Congress (APC) stands at a critical crossroads as it grapples with the ramifications of its recent consensus candidate selection process. The emergence of a so-called “consensus” candidate, rather than being a symbol of unity, has instead revealed deep fractures within the party’s internal democratic structures. The widespread discontent among aspirants who feel sidelined and silenced exposes a troubling trend: the collapse of internal democracy in the APC, which threatens to unleash anti-party sentiments that could have disastrous consequences in the 2027 general elections. 

The APC’s current trajectory—marked by opaque decision-making and authoritarian imposition—will inevitably engender internal rebellion unless urgent, meaningful reforms are undertaken to restore genuine participatory democracy within the party.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/political-party-system-why-are-we-members-if-few-will-decide-our-fate-through-consensus/

To begin with, internal democracy is the lifeblood of any political party, particularly one that claims to govern while representing diverse constituencies. Democracy within a party ensures that aspirants for various offices have a fair chance to contest based on merit, vision, and popular support. It fosters legitimacy, accountability, and cohesion, enabling the party to present a unified front during elections. Unfortunately, the APC’s recent handling of the consensus candidate arrangement starkly contrasts with these principles. Instead of a transparent and inclusive consultation process, many aspirants recount being coerced into signing undertakings to accept predetermined outcomes—decisions orchestrated by the party leadership without genuine input from rank-and-file members.

Such practices betray the foundational democratic ethos the APC purports to uphold. One cannot help but view the forced acquiescence and symbolic “consensus” as an endorsement of dictatorship cloaked in a veneer of unity. This top-down imposition disenfranchises the very individuals who are supposed to embody and promote the party’s ideals. The covert nature of communications—aspirants resorting to WhatsApp conversations to express their grievances out of fear of surveillance—underscores a climate of mistrust and intimidation. A healthy political party thrives on open dialogue; a party that compels its members into silence through fear is fundamentally broken.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/political-party-system-why-are-we-members-if-few-will-decide-our-fate-through-consensus/

The consequences of this erosion of internal democracy are neither abstract nor distant. A party whose members feel betrayed or marginalized risks fracturing from within. The APC’s hundreds, if not thousands, of disgruntled aspirants represent a reservoir of latent anti-party sentiment that, if left unaddressed, will manifest during the high-stakes 2027 general elections. These aggrieved members might either disengage entirely, reducing voter turnout and weakening the party’s grassroots machinery, or worse, sabotage the party from within by supporting opposition candidates, defecting to rival parties, or fomenting unrest.

Historical precedents within Nigerian politics illustrate that when internal democratic practices collapse, the resulting alienation among party members translates directly into electoral defeats. Political parties that prioritize authoritarian control over inclusivity invariably lose the confidence of their base. The APC, as the ruling party, must understand that its legitimacy does not rest solely on incumbency or executive power but fundamentally on the grassroots support nurtured through honest and participative political processes.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/political-party-system-why-are-we-members-if-few-will-decide-our-fate-through-consensus/

The justification frequently offered by party elites for such consensus arrangements—that they are necessary for “unity” and to “avoid divisive primaries”—is deeply flawed. True unity arises from mutual respect and equitable competition, not from imposed decisions that silence dissent. Primaries may be contentious but are essential to test ideas, vet candidates, and build momentum. By circumventing primaries and opting for handpicked consensus candidates without buy-in, the party betrays its members’ trust and stifles political innovation.

It is crucial to recognize that internal democracy is not merely an ideological luxury but a practical necessity for the APC’s long-term sustainability. In the absence of credible internal mechanisms for selecting candidates, the party’s leadership risks alienating vital cadres, eroding morale, and undermining the collective commitment that fuels election mobilization. The current state, described by aspirants as “dictatorship at its peak,” may secure short-term compliance but sacrifices enduring loyalty. Such loyalty cannot be bought with patronage or enforced with intimidation; it must be nurtured through respect, transparency, and fairness.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/political-party-system-why-are-we-members-if-few-will-decide-our-fate-through-consensus/

To avert the looming crisis, the APC must embark on comprehensive reforms that reestablish internal democracy. First, there must be a clear, public, and binding framework for candidate selection that ensures fairness, transparency, and inclusiveness. Party elders and leaders should act as facilitators rather than dictators, enabling aspirants to compete on an equal footing. Second, grievance mechanisms must be strengthened to allow aspirants to voice concerns without fear of reprisal, ensuring that disputes are resolved internally rather than festering underground. Third, digital transparency tools can be employed to document all stages of candidate selection, building trust and verifying that processes are respected.

Additionally, the party leadership should engage in sincere dialogue with disgruntled aspirants, recognizing their value and addressing their concerns through concrete concessions and roles within the party structure. Reconciliation efforts must go beyond mere public relations exercises and demonstrate true commitment to inclusivity.

READ ALSO: https://newsng.ng/political-party-system-why-are-we-members-if-few-will-decide-our-fate-through-consensus/

The APC faces a defining moment that demands urgent attention to its internal democratic deficits. The narrative of consensus candidacy, as currently practiced, signals a dangerous slide into authoritarianism that alienates vital segments of party membership. Without immediate and genuine reforms, the party risks sowing the seeds of anti-party rebellion that could severely weaken its electoral prospects in 2027 and beyond. 

Internal democracy is not simply a procedural formality—it is the foundation upon which the APC’s legitimacy and future success depend. To uphold its role as Nigeria’s leading political force, the APC must restore democratic norms within its ranks or face the consequences of a divided, disenfranchised membership turning against it from within. Failure to do so will not only compromise its electoral fortunes but also undermine the very democratic ideals it professes to champion.

* James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.

APC 2027: Will consensus enforce anti-party as a result of collapses in internal democracy? 

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