REJOINDER: On the Call for Vice President Shettima to Resign – A Premature and Misguided Proposition

REJOINDER: On the Call for Vice President Shettima to Resign – A Premature and Misguided Proposition

By: Dan Amana

The attention of well-meaning Nigerians, party loyalists, and progressive stakeholders has been drawn to recent comments credited to Mallam Salihu Isa Nataro, a chieftain of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in which he called on Vice President Kashim Shettima to resign his position as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

While every citizen is entitled to free expression, it is important to respond when opinion borders on political misjudgment, poor timing, and an inaccurate reading of the political climate and leadership dynamics within the APC.

First, Vice President Shettima enjoys the full confidence and partnership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and continues to discharge his duties with the competence, loyalty, and vision that have defined his public service for over two decades. His contributions to the Renewed Hope Agenda are not only strategic but foundational—especially in areas of national security coordination, economic policy, and intergovernmental diplomacy.

To suggest that the Vice President “resign” for optics or to appease speculative 2027 calculations is both premature and unnecessary. The Vice President is not an accidental passenger in this administration; he is a co-architect of its foundational vision, having stood firmly by the President during the most turbulent moments of the 2023 campaign, and has since been a pillar of national cohesion and administrative stability.

Mallam Nataro’s commentary, though perhaps well-intentioned, unfortunately reflects a misunderstanding of the inner workings of government, party loyalty, and constitutional duty. Leadership is not a reality show of musical chairs, where individuals step aside to make room for ambition or sentiment. The office of the Vice President is not a bargaining chip for regional appeasement but a sacred trust between the Nigerian people and their elected leaders.

More so, APC is not a party of impulsive decisions. It is a movement grounded in strategy, inclusivity, and long-term national development goals. As such, speculative maneuvers aimed at altering the current power structure—midway into a constitutionally mandated tenure—are both distracting and destabilizing.

We also caution against using the North-East geopolitical zone as a token in political negotiations. The region has borne its share of national burdens, and the emergence of Vice President Shettima is a symbol of the APC’s commitment to inclusion, capacity, and national healing. His leadership continues to inspire hope among millions across the region and the nation at large.

In conclusion, we urge party elders and opinion leaders to focus their energies on strengthening governance, deepening internal democracy, and supporting the President and Vice President in delivering on their mandate to Nigerians. Calls for resignation at this critical stage only serve the interest of political opportunists—not the Nigerian people.

Let it be clearly stated: Vice President Kashim Shettima remains focused, committed, and unshaken in his service to Nigeria under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Together, they will continue to lead Nigeria toward peace, prosperity, and purpose.

REJOINDER: On the Call for Vice President Shettima to Resign – A Premature and Misguided Proposition