Vice-President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that 13 of the 19 northern governors did not support President Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid in the 2023 election.

Shettima made the disclosure on Wednesday at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the turbaning of the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.

According to the Vice-President, only six northern governors supported Tinubu during the presidential contest, despite the political influence of the region and the intense opposition surrounding his ambition.

“You all know that we have 19 states in the North. Out of these, only six actually believed and supported Tinubu,” Shettima said, adding that Tinubu refused to be deterred by the lack of support from the majority of the region’s governors.

Shettima specifically mentioned former Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and Governor AbdulRazaq as among those who supported Tinubu, but declined to name the other governors, saying he wanted to avoid controversy.

The Vice-President’s account contrasts with the role played by 13 northern APC governors during the 2022 party primary process, when they publicly backed the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket to the South.

The governors had met with then-President Muhammadu Buhari and insisted that the APC presidential ticket should go to a southerner.

Shettima said the 2023 experience demonstrated the need for politicians to distinguish between political contests and enduring relationships, urging them not to treat electoral disagreements as permanent divisions.

He said Tinubu demonstrated this approach after winning the election by reconciling with northern governors who did not support his presidential ambition.

“After the 2023 election, President Tinubu hugged and forgave all other northern governors that did not support him. That is the mark of a good leader,” he said.

Shettima urged politicians in Kwara State to reconcile after the last APC primaries, regardless of who emerged stressing that political competition should not turn former allies into permanent enemies.

The Vice-President also defended the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy, saying the government inherited about $3.9 billion in its coffers but chose to confront the economic challenges rather than spend its time apportioning blame.

He said Tinubu directed his economic team to proceed with its reform programme despite the difficult circumstances inherited by the administration.

Shettima also commended the Emir of Ilorin for conferring the Sardauna title on AbdulRazaq, saying the honour would further strengthen the relationship between the governor’s family and the Ilorin Emirate.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that 13 of the 19 northern governors did not support President Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid in the 2023 election.

Shettima made the disclosure on Wednesday at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the turbaning of the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.

According to the Vice-President, only six northern governors supported Tinubu during the presidential contest, despite the political influence of the region and the intense opposition surrounding his ambition.

“You all know that we have 19 states in the North. Out of these, only six actually believed and supported Tinubu,” Shettima said, adding that Tinubu refused to be deterred by the lack of support from the majority of the region’s governors.

Shettima specifically mentioned former Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and Governor AbdulRazaq as among those who supported Tinubu, but declined to name the other governors, saying he wanted to avoid controversy.

The Vice-President’s account contrasts with the role played by 13 northern APC governors during the 2022 party primary process, when they publicly backed the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket to the South.

The governors had met with then-President Muhammadu Buhari and insisted that the APC presidential ticket should go to a southerner.

Shettima said the 2023 experience demonstrated the need for politicians to distinguish between political contests and enduring relationships, urging them not to treat electoral disagreements as permanent divisions.

He said Tinubu demonstrated this approach after winning the election by reconciling with northern governors who did not support his presidential ambition.

“After the 2023 election, President Tinubu hugged and forgave all other northern governors that did not support him. That is the mark of a good leader,” he said.

Shettima urged politicians in Kwara State to reconcile after the last APC primaries, regardless of who emerged stressing that political competition should not turn former allies into permanent enemies.

The Vice-President also defended the Tinubu administration’s handling of the economy, saying the government inherited about $3.9 billion in its coffers but chose to confront the economic challenges rather than spend its time apportioning blame.

He said Tinubu directed his economic team to proceed with its reform programme despite the difficult circumstances inherited by the administration.

Shettima also commended the Emir of Ilorin for conferring the Sardauna title on AbdulRazaq, saying the honour would further strengthen the relationship between the governor’s family and the Ilorin Emirate.