Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria’s presidency cannot be won through coercion, stressing that leadership in a diverse country requires inclusivity and broad acceptance.
Speaking on the political climate, he emphasized unity and coalition-building, stating: “In a multi-ethnic, multi-religious politics like ours, nobody can bulldoze his way to power through deceit, lies, intim+dation, thr+ats and bl@ckmail. You get to power by building bridges, by reaching out.”
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Shettima expressed support for a South-East president to address historical grievances but criticized certain approaches, saying: “I am for the emergence of a Nigerian president of South-Eastern extraction to heal the wounds of the civil w@r. But the models of engagement adopted by the delusional audiovisual crowd is condemnable and it will take them nowhere.”
Referencing past politics, he highlighted grassroots strategy: “Shehu Musa Yar’Adua crisscrossed the whole of this nation building bridges and when he defeated the late Lateef Jakande in Lagos and Lateef Jakande invited him to a contest, to a popularity contest along the streets of Lagos, he retorted by saying go for that contest with Sarumi because it was Sarumi and co. It was the likes of Sarumi and Bola Tinubu that delivered Lagos during the presidential primaries.”
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He added that more qualified candidates exist in the South-East: “I believe even in the South-East there are better qualified people to rule this nation than Gringory.”
Citing examples, he said: “Honestly, I dare to mention my friend Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha. He was born, bred, buttered and toasted in the North. He speaks Hausa with local fluency. He made his money in the North and in Lagos and he’s at home in all parts of the country.”
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He also praised David Umahi: “We have David Umahi. Yes, you can call him a provincial politician but there’s no governor in the South-East that has performed better than David Umahi. Go to Ebonyi and see the roads constructed by him, then you’ll come to appreciate this great son of Africa.”
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