The Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, has come to the defence of Vice President Kashim Shettima amid Presidency backlash over his recent candid remarks concerning constitutional governance and Nigeria’s political climate.
Vice President Shettima drew national attention on Thursday, July 10, 2025, during the launch of the book “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block” by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), in Abuja. In a moment of rare political honesty, Shettima recalled a 2013 episode during the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States. He praised then-Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Attorney General Adoke for upholding constitutional limits by advising President Goodluck Jonathan that he had no legal power to remove elected officials, including governors, under such declarations.
This acknowledgment particularly meaningful as Shettima himself was Governor of Borno at the time was seen by many as a subtle critique of the recent political turmoil in Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara was reportedly ousted under similar claims of a breakdown of law and order.
However, confusion followed when Shettima’s office appeared to backtrack, issuing a clarifying statement that downplayed any connection between his remarks and the current situation in Rivers.
In response, Labour Party spokesperson Ken Eluma criticized this retreat, calling it “disingenuous” and noting that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution—regarding the declaration of a state of emergency—remains unchanged since 2013 and does not grant the President authority to remove elected governors.
“We commend Vice President Shettima for his rare moment of honesty in acknowledging the unconstitutional nature of Governor Fubara’s removal,” Eluma said. “But it is alarming how quickly he was pressured to retract. Who is intimidating the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
The Labour Party warned that if even a sitting Vice President protected by immunity and high office cannot speak openly without fear of political retribution, it signals a grim deterioration of free expression and democratic norms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“We reiterate our appreciation to Vice President Shettima for his moment of truth,” Eluma concluded. “But we urge those behind the scenes to respect the dignity of the Vice Presidency, the Constitution, and the people’s right to open, honest governance.”
