Deliberately Manipulated Fault-lines Meant to Divide Nigerians, Says Vice-President
•Declares those undermining Tinubu know he’s a political phenomenon
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has expressed the need for Nigerians to discard all forms of acrimony and embrace togetherness as a people, saying the nation’s fault-lines were being deliberately manipulated to divide the nation.
He, therefore, implored Nigerians to uphold truth and integrity in the face of misinformation and falsehood threatening the fabric of the society.
Shettima spoke yesterday in Abuja during the presentation of a book titled: “Beating All Odds: Diaries and Essays on How Bola Tinubu Became President”, authored by Sam Omatseye.
He 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.
“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.”
Earlier, Chairman of the event and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, said the book provided 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.”
