Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed a dramatic incident involving President Bola Tinubu during the early months of the current administration, disclosing that some individuals warned the President against wearing traditional outfits gifted to him during the 2023 election campaign because they allegedly believed the clothes were spiritually “charmed.”
Shettima made the revelation on Tuesday while speaking at the public presentation of former Head of State Yakubu Gowon’s autobiography titled My Life of Duty and Allegiance in Abuja, where he represented President Tinubu. The Vice President narrated how the unusual allegation surfaced barely three months after Tinubu assumed office as Nigeria’s President.
According to Shettima, during the buildup to the 2023 presidential election, he personally arranged traditional Borno attire and caps for Tinubu to wear while campaigning across northern Nigeria. The move, he explained, was intended to help the then APC presidential candidate connect more closely with northern communities during political engagements and rallies. He said Tinubu liked the outfits and repeatedly wore them throughout the campaign period because they fitted well and received positive reactions from supporters. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
However, the Vice President said the situation took an unexpected turn after he returned from an official trip to China, where he had represented Tinubu at the Belt and Road Initiative Conference. According to him, the President invited him for a private conversation and disclosed that certain individuals from Borno State had visited him with warnings that the clothes gifted by Shettima had been spiritually manipulated to cause his death and pave the way for the Vice President to become President.
Rather than entertain the allegation, Shettima said Tinubu dismissed the claims immediately and responded in a manner that surprised many around him. The President reportedly continued wearing the outfits consistently for an entire week as a deliberate rejection of the rumour and what he considered divisive political mischief. Shettima praised Tinubu’s response, describing it as evidence of trust, courage, and political maturity in the face of attempts to sow suspicion within the presidency.
The Vice President used the story to stress the importance of loyalty and unity in leadership, warning against individuals who seek to create unnecessary tension between political allies for personal gain. Observers believe the comments may also reflect ongoing political undercurrents within the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections, especially amid repeated speculation about the future of the Tinubu-Shettima political alliance.
The revelation has since generated widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians debating the role of superstition, loyalty, and internal political intrigue in the country’s political landscape. While some supporters praised Tinubu’s response as a sign of confidence in his deputy, others described the story as another example of the deep mistrust and power struggles that often surround Nigerian politics at the highest level.
