Shettima’s Comment Sparks Outrage: ADC Blasts Presidency Over Clarification

Vice President Kashim Shettima’s remark regarding presidential powers was clarified by the Presidency, but the African Democratic Congress rejected it, calling it “just an attempt at political correctness.”
The party charged that President Bola Tinubu had gone beyond constitutional bounds and undermined democracy in the state of Rivers in a statement issued on Friday.
Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s interim national publicity secretary and spokesperson, maintained that Shettima’s assertion on the President’s power limitations was constitutionally solid and ought to be upheld rather than modified by Villa spin.

“Political correctness must not obscure the truth. The Vice President must maintain his brave and direct declaration that the President is not constitutionally authorized to dismiss an elected council member, much less a serving governor, Abdullahi stated.

He continued by saying that the Presidency’s answer missed the mark and prioritized political concessions over upholding the constitution.

The Rivers State Governor’s suspension, which the ADC claimed was unlawful, raised concerns and warned that Nigeria’s democracy was seriously threatened.

This straightforward fact, which is rooted in the Nigerian Constitution, must not be obscured by the political correctness that is currently coming from Aso Rock, the party added.

“What made President Jonathan’s removal of an elected governor in Borno State unlawful and unconstitutional also makes President Tinubu’s removal of an elected governor in Rivers State unlawful and unconstitutional.”

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In contrast to Tinubu, the party pointed out that former President Goodluck Jonathan upheld constitutional limits even when dealing with Boko Haram attacks.

Citing Shettima’s personal experience as Governor of Borno State in 2014, the ADC remembered how the Attorney General, Mohammed Bello Adoke, and the then-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, adamantly maintained the rule that a president could not dismiss a governor on his own.

“This goes beyond history. “It is precedent,” the party said.

The ADC pleaded on President Tinubu to stop violating the constitution and to bring democracy back to Rivers State.