VP’s Office Slams Datti Baba-Ahmed Over Call for Shettima’s Removal

The Office of the Vice President has issued a scathing response to comments made by Labour Party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, describing his call for Vice President Kashim Shettima’s removal as a display of “jealousy, malice, and conspiratorial manipulation.”

In a statement released on Tuesday, Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications (Office of the Vice President), criticised Baba-Ahmed’s remarks during a recent television appearance, accusing him of being consumed by resentment.

“The delusion of VP Shettima being removed by Datti and his gang of jealous, malicious and conspiratorial manipulators will not succeed,” Nkwocha stated.

He argued that Baba-Ahmed’s frustrations were only beginning and rooted in envy of Shettima’s political trajectory.

“While no one has the power to stop Baba-Ahmed’s obsession with a fellow politician and fellow Northerner’s charismatic persona, especially one who has attained a position he so relishes but might never attain,” Nkwocha said, “however, in seeking the Vice President’s fall, he must defer to the Almighty Allah, who gives power to whom He pleases.”

Nkwocha went further to defend Shettima’s political history, dismissing any suggestion that the Vice President is undeserving of his position.

“Unlike the picture of a desperado that Datti attempted to paint of VP Shettima, this VP, a gentleman, is a perfect story of democratic credentials that are not only untainted but have also never been involved in rigging elections,” he said.

“I must also add that this democrat and leader have never lost an election. In case Datti has forgotten, let him be reminded that this Vice President landed at the Presidential Villa by the mercy of the Almighty God and through the destined hand and will of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after starting life upon graduation from the university as Lecturer 2 (for 2 years), banker (6 years), Commissioner across several ministries in Borno State (4 years), Governor (8 years) and Senator (4 years). If God, in His infinite mercy, has elevated Senator Shettima to become the Vice President of Nigeria, is it unmeritorious?”

Nkwocha also praised Shettima’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the Vice President is held in high regard by his principal.

“Like him, hate him or continue to disparage him on all fronts, a major attribute of VP Shettima that cannot be contested is his loyalty to his boss, President Tinubu @officialABAT, and his total belief and devotion to the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

He dismissed any notion that the President might be dissatisfied with Shettima, saying:

“Unfortunately for the likes of Datti, who would rather expect the President to find fault with his deputy, all President Tinubu sees in him is a loyal and dependable ally, administrative and political asset, intellectual powerhouse, experienced private and public servant, a trojan horse, a reliable confidante, as well as a trustworthy and truly molded cosmopolitan Nigerian.”

In a final jab at Baba-Ahmed, Nkwocha added:

“Unfortunately for the likes of Datti, the President is way above their ‘petty egos and small thoughts.’ This President has seen it all, with his massive wealth of experience in private and public life.”

“Datti can therefore take his small beer parlour gossip elsewhere. The ears are sealed up here; no space for armchair criticism. It is always work mode for Mr President and his Vice President.”