Shettima: Faultlines Deliberately Manipulated to Divide Nigerians During 2023 Election

*Says those undermining Tinubu know he’s a political phenomenon

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

Vice President Kashim Shettuma has expressed the need for Nigerians to discard all forms of acrimony and embrace togetherness as a people.  

He, therefore, implored Nigerians to uphold truth and integrity in the face of misinformation and falsehood that threaten the fabric of the society.

Shettima who spoke Tuesday in Abuja at the  presentation of a book titled “Beating All Odds: Diaries and Essays on How Bola Tinubu Became President”, authored by Sam Omatseye lamented what he described as the “deliberately manipulated” fault-lines which had conspired to divide the people during the run up to the 2023 election that eventually produced President Tinubu. 

According to him: “The last election certainly was the most divisive in the history of this country. All the ethno-religious fault lines that divide this nation were deliberately manipulated for political ends.

“But it is interesting to note that the most Christian of northern states is Benue state. A Nigerian candidate defeated a religious candidate in Benue state.”

Continuing, the Vice President noted that “the most northern of northern states is Sokoto, a Nigerian candidate lost to the regional candidate by mere 5000 votes and the APC went on to win two senate seats, and the majority of House of Representatives seat.

And the most Christian of the south south state is Rivers. A Nigerian candidate defeated a religious candidate in Rivers.

Nonetheless, Shettima declared that “there is cause for celebration. One thing I believe is that what binds us together supercedes whatever divides us.” 

Reflecting on the significance of Omatseye’s work, Shettima said, “Mr. Sam Omatseye stands as a courageous sentinel for our history. He transcends the omission of those who shy away from truth in the most uncomfortable places and in the scariest of circumstances.”

He described Omatseye as “both a hero of the people and an intellectual I am excited to celebrate today.”

The Vice President highlighted the critical role of authentic journalism in safeguarding democracy, saying, “The build-up to the last presidential elections in Nigeria revealed a peculiar type of writers and bloggers… These authors, devoted to political fantasy, have dedicated their lives to crafting false narratives and outright fabrications to sow chaos.”

Applauding Omatseye’s ability to provide readers with a comprehensive view of Nigeria’s political landscape, he noted: “Mr. Omatseye didn’t only set out to share his personal diaries as a well-read political historian; he has given the world a three-dimensional view. Successfully, the author underlined both the delicate and the concrete turns of events that led to this electoral outcome.”

On the central character of the book, President Tinubu, the Vice President noted that even those trying to dent his boss’ image know full well that the President is a political phenomenon.

He stated: “Our recourse to facts in this climate of propaganda and lies would disinfect the minds of the impressionable, and this book does justice to the subject of President Tinubu’s ascent up the ladder of glories as the recipient of the nation’s highest honor – the office of the President. I believe this book is an interaction with time, a record of the science and miracle of our journey to this height.

“President Tinubu is a political phenomenon; even those who attempted to undermine him live to confess to this fact. The President’s years of building people and relationships played out during the elections, and this book provides sufficient material for curious minds.”

Shettima further called on the citizens to be assured that the President Tinubu-led administration has Nigeria at heart notwithstanding the prevailing odds against it.  

“Yes we are having challenges we are not denying that. And we are not here to apportion blame. Leadership is about accepting responsibility and finding solutions to national challenges.

“The president is a man of courage and conviction. In the first one week in office, he took far reaching decisions. The oil subsidy has been an albatross round the neck of the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian nation. 

“He took the bull by the horn and withdrew the fuel subsidy from day one. He was able to collapse the multiple exchange rate regime that gave room for a lot of hanky-panky”, the Vice President added, assuring that “in the fullness of time, history would be kind to him.”

“Some of the journalists in this room, I don’t want to mention their names to avoid embarrassing their person, they are of the Christian faith but they were the most vociferous proponents of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’ candidature. They are men and women of integrity who stood for what is right.

On Tinubu’s economic decision which had been dogged by criticisms, the Vice President said “the president is a man of courage and conviction. In the first one week in office, he took far reaching decisions. 

“The oil subsidy has been an albatross round the neck of the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian nation. He took the bull by the horn and withdrew the fuel subsidy from day one. He was able to collapse the multiple exchange rate regime that gave room for a lot of hanky-panky.

“But, be rest assured that in the fullness of time, history would be kind to him,”  Shettima added. 

Earlier, Chairman of the event and former governor of Ogun state, Chief Segun Osoba said the book provides an excellent insight into the vision, character, 

methods, and strategies of an unusual politician (Tinubu). 

“As a book written by an enterprising journalist and an influential columnist, 

this is another feather to the decorated hat of Sam Omatseye, the four-time 

winner of the Informed Commentary prize of the Diamond Awards for Media and four-time winner of Nigerian Media Merit Award, including reporter of the year.

The veteran journalist said “the versatile writer who makes words sing and dance into the reader’s consciousness.”

According to Osoba, “a journalist who becomes an author deserves to be appreciated. A journalist who has become an author several times like Sam Omatseye deserves to be celebrated.”