Shettima to Atiku on 2027 Polls: ‘Brace for More Jabs’

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been jokingly warned by Vice President Kashim Shettima to expect more verbal clashes as the general elections in 2027 approach.

This declaration was reportedly delivered by Nigeria’s second citizen at a conference in Abuja.

Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2023 presidential contender, was among the luminaries he was honoring at the commemoration of former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi’s 60th birthday.

He referred to himself as a “adjunct provocateur” who took “hot shots” at Atiku in the 2023 presidential race, Shettima said.
But he admitted that Atiku had taken the criticism well since he was a revered senior statesman.

In particular, Shettima revealed that he lovingly calls Atiku “Baba” (meaning “father” in Hausa) during their private conversations.

Despite this cutesy word, Shettima jokingly said that Atiku might expect more verbal insults in the future.

This conversation was enjoyable to the audience, and Atiku himself smiled.

Regardless of their political affiliations, Shettima also urged all leaders to unite during his speech.

Read Also: Gov Adeleke Dismisses Claims of Medical Staff Shortage at Iwo Hospital

He underlined that African governments should stop depending on foreign projects and instead embrace indigenous development solutions.

“The tragedy of our day is that African leaders have not only failed to break free from client-state mindsets and governance through hashtag activism, but they have also limited themselves to Western models.

We live in the age of machines, regardless of the divisions we have throughout the continent. This truth cannot be undermined by internal strife.

While the rest of the world is using tanks and missiles to fight the same conflict, we cannot use spears and arrows to solve our development conundrum. “Africa is not waiting for the world to catch up,” Shettima said.