Presidency Denies Shettima Linked Remarks To Rivers Crisis

The Presidency has denied claims that Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent remarks were aimed at justifying the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara or linked to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The clarification followed a wave of online reports suggesting Shettima had compared the crisis in Rivers with a similar episode during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, when there were discussions about removing him as Governor of Borno during the height of Boko Haram insurgency.

Shettima made the remarks at the launch of a book authored by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke in Abuja, where he spoke of his past experiences in office. According to the Presidency, his comments were historical in nature and unrelated to the current political situation in Rivers.

In a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, the government accused some media outlets of twisting Shettima’s words to stir controversy. The statement said the Vice President’s remarks were meant to praise Adoke’s public service record and reflect on constitutional governance, not to comment on the Fubara suspension or the Rivers crisis.

The Presidency insisted that President Bola Tinubu acted strictly within constitutional provisions in handling the political standoff in Rivers. The statement explained that Tinubu’s decision to suspend Fubara from office, backed by both chambers of the National Assembly, was in line with Section 305 of the Constitution, which allows for extraordinary measures when public order breaks down.

The political situation in Rivers had reached a boiling point with the State Assembly in disarray, threats of impeachment, and escalating violence. Federal institutions were reportedly attacked, and governance had nearly come to a halt. The Presidency argued that the suspension, rather than a full removal of the governor, was a constitutional measure taken to restore order and prevent further deterioration.

It also clarified that the Rivers situation is not comparable to the Boko Haram insurgency, which involved armed conflict and attacks on national sovereignty. Instead, the actions taken in Rivers were designed to address a political impasse that threatened the democratic process.

The Presidency further defended Shettima, stating that he remains fully aligned with President Tinubu and supports all actions taken to stabilize the country. It warned against politicizing his words or misrepresenting government decisions for sensational headlines.

Media outlets and political players were urged to be more responsible in their reporting and avoid creating friction through misleading interpretations. The Presidency maintained that unity within the federal administration remains intact and that measures taken in Rivers were necessary to uphold law, order, and democratic governance.