Vice-President Kashim Shettima has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his comments about President Bola Tinubu, arguing that anyone seeking the presidency must demonstrate discipline and respect for public institutions.
Shettima spoke on Wednesday at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The vice-president said the presidency was the highest political office in the country and required candidates to demonstrate maturity, responsibility and respect for the institutions of government.
He argued that Atiku’s repeated attempts to become president did not excuse iwhat he considered disrespectful language towards the incumbent president.
“Those who want 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 the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Shettima said.
He added that he would continue to address Atiku by his formal title, despite their political differences.
“I will still respect him and call him his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar,” he said.
Shettima also referred to Atiku’s repeated presidential ambitions, questioning his political standing through comparisons with historical figures.
“Atiku Abubakar, who has contested for the presidency of this country for the eighth time, is no Abraham Lincoln. He is more of Oginga Odinga,” the vice-president said.
Shettima Speaks on Conduct of Presidential Candidates
The vice-president maintained that the presidency should not be treated as an ordinary political prize, saying candidates must demonstrate the qualities expected of someone seeking to lead the country.
“The presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not an ordinary political prize. It is the highest expression of constitutional authority in our country,” he said.
Shettima argued that presidential ambition should be accompanied by good judgement, intellectual maturity and responsibility, particularly in a country with more than 200 million people.
He said the conduct of candidates before assuming office could offer an indication of how they might approach the responsibilities of leadership.
“The higher the office a person seeks, the greater the discipline expected in his words, conduct, and relationship with public institutions,” he added.
Shettima Questions Atiku’s Production Subsidy Proposal
Shettima also questioned Atiku’s proposal on production subsidies, raising concerns about how the policy would be financed and whether it could place additional pressure on the national budget.
Describing the political season as a “masterclass in cinematic comedy”, the vice-president asked who would bear the cost of the proposed subsidies, who would benefit and which other government priorities might lose funding.
“Who pays? Who benefits? And which competing priorities must surrender their funding?” he asked.
“A change in ideological wardrobe cannot balance a national budget,” Shettima added.
The criticism came as political parties began strengthening their structures ahead of the 2027 general election, with the APC inaugurating its expanded Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja.
The inauguration formally brought members of the ruling party’s campaign structure together as preparations for the next presidential election gathered momentum.
