By Stephen Oladele
Vice President of the country, Kashim Shettima has urged politicians in the nation to play politics without bitterness and lead with humility and fear of God
He made the advice as he cited disposition of his boss, President Bola Tinubu, whom he said gladly accepted liability of administration of the President Buharri he succeeded in office and also embraced both the governors who supported him and those who did not support him during primary election of the his party.
The Vice President made the advice in Ilorin on Wednesday at the turbaning ceremony of the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate at the palace of the the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
He said that when the Tinubu’s administration assumed office in 2023 and had only about $3.9b inherited in the kitty eyebrows were raised by many people but Tinubu ignored the complaint and said he inherited both asset and liability of his predecessor.
Kashim said Tinubu was decent and played no bitter politics with his predecessor
He said the easiest way to offend Tinubu was to abuse Bihari explaining that if one does that no matter how close such person is close to him he would call his bluff and work away.
The vice president said though other people may have their view about the president his perspective from his own encouter with him is that “he is a decent man”
“Against perception or criticism, the president I serve as his assistant is a good man. My own perception of him and closeness with him, proves to me that he’s a decent man.
“When we assume the mantle of leadership, what we had in the kitty was less than S3.9billion. Our economy was tethering on the verge of collapse. But president Bola Ahmed Tinubu refused to pass the blame. He inherited assets and liabilities of his predecessor.
“And, you and I can bear witness, that many hurdles were before him towards getting the candidature of the APC. We have 19 states from the North. Apart from Sanni Bello and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. To avoid controversy, I’ll stop naming others. But governors supporting Tinubu were not more than six,” he stated.
The vice president urged his colleague politicians to play politics without bitterness saying “the beauty of politics is that there is no permanent enemy but permanent interest.
Kashim also advised that politicians,whenever they are in power, should use power with humility and for the service of God and humanity.
“It’s sobering for all of us to humble ourselves before God and humanity. Time heals, and time solves all problems. Here with me are colleagues who have served this nation many years ago. Senator Abubakar Sanni Bello was a governor. My friend, Mohammed Bello Adoki was a former Attorney General and minister of Justice.
“There are former senators here. The truism of what I’m driving home is that let’s embrace each other. Let us have the courage to forgive one another. Let’s have the humility to serve humanity with less fight.
“Power is one of the favours Allah bestows on us. We’re in power not because of our pedigree. There are people of superior pedigree than us here. We’re in power not because of our intellect. There are people who are endowed with intellect than us here. After all, wife of our governor is a professor. I call on us to unite in this political season. What binds us together supersedes whatever that divides.
“I’m not speaking as a politician, but I’m speaking as your brother and as a fellow Nigerian. If it’s about money, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu (of BUA company) can do a lot here, but he simply submitted to superior power. So, I want to call on us all to play politics without bitterness,” he stated.
The Vice President while congratulating Abdulrazaq on his chieftaincy title said the governor, by virtue of his contributions to the development of the state and the Ilorin emirate and the pedigree of his family background deserves the title.
