Alleged plot: “They told President Tinubu I wanted him dead”- VP Shettima 

Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed that some individuals from Borno State allegedly warned the President that he should stop wearing traditional outfits given to him by Shettima, claiming the garments were used to “charm” him.

Vice president Shettima made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation of former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s autobiography titled My Life of Duty and Allegiance.

He said President Tinubu dismissed the claims outright and even wore the outfit repeatedly for a week to debunk what he described as baseless suspicion.

Alleged plot and presidential reaction

The vice president said the incident occurred barely three months after Tinubu’s inauguration, when political aides and visitors allegedly raised concerns about the traditional attire.

According to him, the President was told he might have been “charmed” and that the Vice President intended to take over power.

However, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu rejected the claims and responded by openly wearing the outfit for several days.

“For one week, to prove to them that he is not a fetish, he wore those dresses,” Shettima said.

Shettima warns against rising suspicion in politics

The Vice President used the incident to highlight what he described as growing mistrust and conspiracy thinking in Nigerian politics.

He compared the situation with earlier eras of leadership, citing former Head of State Mr Yakubu Gowon’s era as one defined by trust and unity.

VP Shettima referenced how religious and cultural gifts were once exchanged freely among leaders without suspicion.

“Suspicion smears our relationships, and it ought not to be. We are essentially one people tied to a common destiny,” he said.

Reference to Gowon’s leadership legacy

Mr Shettima also praised Gen. Yakubu Gowon for his leadership style, citing initiatives such as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the formation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He described Gowon’s leadership as one rooted in reconciliation and national unity, contrasting it with what he called rising political distrust in modern Nigeria.

Mr Shettima urged Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and focus on unity, warning that continued mistrust could undermine national stability.

He referenced ongoing communal tensions in parts of the country, including Plateau State, calling for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

“Let us learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools,” he said, quoting Martin Luther King Jr.

The remarks come amid heightened political tension within Nigeria’s ruling establishment, with increasing scrutiny of internal trust, power dynamics, and succession narratives within the presidency.